This has been in my mind since... years ago still building balsa and heat shrink skin material came out. Finally RC tech has caught up to my expectations.
I've heard so many people sing the praises of large commercial quads. Sadly in my mind they are an expensive high res camera platform. And the way they fly uses up a lot of power compared to a fixed wing. The ones that could carry emergency supplies into action... you just multiplied your cost by five. A major portion of cost is the on board and control system computers and software. As my Dad would say, "Push the button stupid" flying. Nothing beats a seasoned pilot, and a good set of eyes any day.
Let's compare. $20 or less of DTFB. Basic flight gear, $300, and that's high I'd say. UHF albeit your upping your game into Long Range Flight, possibly now your scratching $1,000 total including control station. Dual 3 camera systems so that one person can monitor Day/Low Light/Thermal cameras in the belly, the other for the pilot as Cockpit, Belly, Cargo Monitor. 6 channel minimum system, 4 flight, 1 cargo door, 1 load release.
Flying pattern as standard protocol, spot the lost. Mark GPS location by OSD system. Drop first emergency pack, water, small handheld beacon/walkie-talkie, LED visual spotting aid. Possibly a few Space Blankets, First Aid Kit, and high protein snacks. Now, in most situations that plane just gave those people a 75% boost to their survival. In two passes.
What would you give to have that kind of system available in your area, forests, mountains, beaches, anywhere?
For safety, all of my fixed wing models use a 2 stage throttle cut on the transmitter. If I absolutely had to kill all power before returning to the pits I would just run the XT60 connectors out the fuse somewhere.
