Long Range RC airplane?

by Matt
(Newport Beach CA)

I'm looking for a long range RC airplane.

Endurance is really what I'm after here. I need an RC airplane that can fly a good long distance without refueling or recharging.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a RC plane that had a range of 10-15 miles?

Comments for
Long Range RC airplane?

Click here to add your own comments

Range?
by: TexasFlyBoy13

We really need a bit more information on your application. I have eyes like a bird, but I can't see that far. If you're looking to fly from a boat to cross a lake, or something like that, then that's fairly easy to accomplish.

My Bud Nosen 1/4 scale Citabria will cruise for about 40 minutes at about 40 mph. That's only with a 14 oz. tank. There is plenty of room for a tank twice that size and the plane wouldn't even notice the weight.

So, with that, you would easily have 40 to 50 miles of travel time depending on head wind and still have plenty of play time when you got there.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the engine with that great fuel rate is a Saito FG-30 and 18X6 Master Airscrew Classic Series prop.

Long range RC airplane
by: terrance

Hi there mate...

Most humans can't see a tiny plane, a 40 or 60 size beyond a kilometer or two. You can increase that distance by using binoculars. But it's going to give you a bad catch in the neck because they are heavy and its not practical.

The way I see it, you have two problems my friend.

1. range of the Rx - Tx communication
2. Vision.

Here are the solutions but they cost some serious money.

1. You can get a signal booster. The downside to this is the need to have a bigger plane to support the weight. You need to look and see if you can get a ground signal booster. I am not sure if they even exist to be honest with you.

2. Vision... You can get the fly cams now. They cost about 400$ or so. You can set up the cam on the plane and that will stream back images to your ground unit. It transmits on 2.4ghz. Your LHS should have more info on getting them.

In my opinion the best part of flying an RC plane is to see it fly, watch it react to your control inputs... Why in the world would you want to fly out of your range of vision?

Long Range RC Airplane
by: Dennis Caribou,ME

Good Day,

The Telford Group from Bangor,Maine is doing research at the old Loring AFB,ME. They are developing a RC Blimp for security and surveillance observation platforms.

I don't know the range on it, but the ground control unit will probably set you back more than the price of a new home in CA.

Oh ya the U S Government has a few but I don't think they will sell any of them to the general public.

Then you would have to be licensed by the FAA as a pilot to operate this aircraft. FAA AC 91-57 Model Aircraft Operating Standards which I believe is still under review would pertain to what you want to do.

I also believe that FAA and AMA require you to only fly model aircraft in ( line of sight )at all times.

More info
by: Matt

Thanks for replying guys.

I have at my disposal a U.S. Air Force high frequency data link, so long range communication is not a problem.

I have also created a UAV program to remotely control the plane without the use of a human. I have already constructed a smaller version on other various aircraft but I have failed to find a RC plane with very high endurance.

On my other planes I have mounted a specialized 22gram IR camera which can be accessed from the data link so that I can manually fly the plane without actually seeing it.

long range rc plane
by: oc carter

I wonder if the USAF is going to cover your liability. this is what I would be more concerned about before I would look for an RC airplane.

Anyway, I would look for a large plane, around 10' wing span using gasoline 2cycle engine. If you cannot cover your liability, it would be best to fly over the big pond.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Questions