EDinCT
Member
I recently built an FT Explorer for the sole purpose of flying FPV. I liked it and it flew nice, but there were a few things I wanted to change. So I decided to design something from the ground up that incorporated the things that I liked and the things that I thought would make it better.
My goals:
- easy to hand launch
- smooth flyer
- able to carry a large battery
- room for flight controller (I use Vector)
- sturdy airframe that I wouldn’t worry about stuffing expensive electronics in.
I Used SketchUp to make my design. I incorporated a couple nice features that I’m very happy with.
- There is a removable module that holds the receiver, flight controller, video transmitter, and current sensor. This will let me change the design around later and move the electronics setup easily from plane to plane.
- I also made a removable battery tray that enables me to find the perfect CG for a given weight battery. Once established, I remove the battery by simply sliding the tray out and charging the battery in the tray. With multiple trays I can swap batteries in seconds and always get a perfect CG. The tray is long enough to provide huge flexibility in battery placement.
- I decided to go with a twin engine setup since I wasn’t very happy with the flight characteristics of the pusher setup on the Explorer. I basically copied the Sea Duck wing and designed motor pods instead of the booms on the SD. I also added some ply on the spars for a little added strength.
The end result is beyond my expectations. The plane balances perfect with a 5100 mAh battery right in the middle of the tray. It takes off with just a very light toss and flies straight and level with zero bad tendencies. The counter rotating props eliminate any torque roll and the plane gently climbs out as it leaves your hand.
Once up in the air, the plane flies super smooth. The larger size helps out here I think although I haven’t weighed it yet.
Here are some pictures. It’s not super pretty but it’s super functional if you are looking for a fun FPV plane!!
on the ground ready to fly:
Here is a side by side with the Explorer as a size comparison
Here is the battery tray sliding into its slot:
And a screen capture of the launch
I have a short video of the launch I’m uploading now. I also have some DVR footage from the first few flights that I need to edit. The aerial footage was so good I decided to order a Runcam Split so I can get some good HD video.
Very happy with how this came out!
My goals:
- easy to hand launch
- smooth flyer
- able to carry a large battery
- room for flight controller (I use Vector)
- sturdy airframe that I wouldn’t worry about stuffing expensive electronics in.
I Used SketchUp to make my design. I incorporated a couple nice features that I’m very happy with.
- There is a removable module that holds the receiver, flight controller, video transmitter, and current sensor. This will let me change the design around later and move the electronics setup easily from plane to plane.
- I also made a removable battery tray that enables me to find the perfect CG for a given weight battery. Once established, I remove the battery by simply sliding the tray out and charging the battery in the tray. With multiple trays I can swap batteries in seconds and always get a perfect CG. The tray is long enough to provide huge flexibility in battery placement.
- I decided to go with a twin engine setup since I wasn’t very happy with the flight characteristics of the pusher setup on the Explorer. I basically copied the Sea Duck wing and designed motor pods instead of the booms on the SD. I also added some ply on the spars for a little added strength.
The end result is beyond my expectations. The plane balances perfect with a 5100 mAh battery right in the middle of the tray. It takes off with just a very light toss and flies straight and level with zero bad tendencies. The counter rotating props eliminate any torque roll and the plane gently climbs out as it leaves your hand.
Once up in the air, the plane flies super smooth. The larger size helps out here I think although I haven’t weighed it yet.
Here are some pictures. It’s not super pretty but it’s super functional if you are looking for a fun FPV plane!!
on the ground ready to fly:
Here is a side by side with the Explorer as a size comparison
Here is the battery tray sliding into its slot:
And a screen capture of the launch
I have a short video of the launch I’m uploading now. I also have some DVR footage from the first few flights that I need to edit. The aerial footage was so good I decided to order a Runcam Split so I can get some good HD video.
Very happy with how this came out!
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