grantwp3

I'm looking for a large payload, slow-flying platform to convert to a UAV, and the Giant 12" Telemaster ARF from Hobby King looks very promising: http://www.hobbyexpress.com/12_foot_telemaster_arf.htm

If anyone has advice on why this plane would or would not be a good UAV platform, please let me know! Also, if you have other platform suggestions in a similar price class, that info would also be welcome.

I would ideally prefer a pusher prop and a modular payload bay of some kind, but I can't find anything that does that at reasonable cost while maintaining something close to 12' wingspan.

oliveDrab

How about a SIG Rascal 110 (9' 2") or a SIG Rascal 168 (14' wingspan)? One of the large Telemasters had problems with the wing folding and breaking in two in flight. The SIG Rascal's can be bought for approximately $800 - $900. But of course there's shipping costs which are pricey.

The SIG Rascal 110 has struts on the underside of the wing. Looking at photo's of the SIG Rascal 168 ... I do not see struts.

I have a SIG Rascal 110 ARF ... it's a huge, easy to fly airplane with no bad habits. Mine is electric - has an EFlite Power 160 motor running on 10S Lipos.

Here's a link to a thread about the Senior Telemaster wing: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/cras...g-failure.html

Bruce Tharpe makes the Flyin' King and the Super Flyin' King(132" wingspan).

Check out btemodels.com

jetmech05

Don't post like these make you wonder? It's his first post. There is no location. And he wonders about a large payload. Hmmmmmmm

grantwp3

I'm in Madison, Wisconsin. I'm an atmospheric researcher, and I'm exploring inexpensive ways (relative to the alternatives) to carry meteorological instrumentation.

oliveDrab

Did you check out btemodels.com? NASA has used planes built by Bruce Tharpe for purposes such as yours.

grantwp3

Thanks - haven't yet, but I saw the link and am definitely intrigued and will look into it. I'm also looking hard at the Mugin and Hugin airframes sold by fpvmodel.com, in case anyone has any opinions about those.

grantwp3

Just checked out the Super Flyin' King, and it seems like a great fit to what I'm looking for. I see that it's currently out of stock, and I don't know how long it might take to be available again. Also, I'm wondering whether it might be worthwhile to build just the wing from the SFK and then adapt it to a different fuselage specifically designed for interchangeable payloads. And maybe even a pusher prop. Because the high-lift STOL-style wing strikes me as the most appealing part of the SFK -- and the hardest for me to improvise on my own.

bbbair

Adapt and overcome! (a lot of research helps too )

Keep it simple and go for a simple and proven design that is readily available and flexible.

I am thinking about a Giant TWIN Stick... plenty of lift simple to fly and you can stick all sorts of things in the nose.

It is available as a Kit in Montreal Canada.

https://amr-rc.com/en_ca/giant-stick...in-engine.html

Good Luck!

spaceworm

It seems you may be carrying a camera. If so, consider electric propulsion. The vibration of any fuel engine may be a problem, as well as noise, if that is a consideration. It may even be that a self propelled scale glider with a pop up pusher motor pod would be a choice if the payload is enough for your needs. Long flight times, quiet, motor off for photo work, etc. There is also a pusher scale amphibian with a large pod like fuselage. I can't recall it's name. JAWAI.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas to All and to All a good Flight.