RQ-4 Global Hawk Plans

[Slider758]

Hello everyone,

After a fews years break from the hobby, I'm looking into a new project. I'm interested in building a fairly large scale version of the Global Hawk UAV. I've trawled through a lot of posts and googled extensively but can't find any reasonable drawings with measurements, let alone a set of plans.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[mzk]

hi slider even i m working on same thing if you got anything please do let me know

[Slider758]

Will do. If you'd do the same that'd be cool. I've spent hours on the web but found nothing of any worth.

[red-panda]

http://www.northropgrumman.com/images/paris2005/pdfs/global_hawk_brochure.pdf

[kd7ost]

You're going for a Global Hawk design? Ducted fan engine or turbine to boot? I've been pondering a predator design for some time with some large glider wings and a pusher prop configuration with a 2 to 3 cid gasoline engine. It seems easier than the very cool looking Global Hawk. If any of you guys come up with something, be sure to post some pictures. That will be a cool project.

Dan

[tomp]

When I went looking for information about the GH, I found this:

http://www.geocities.com/unicraftmodels/on/ghawk/ghawk.htm

It's a resin kit that looks pretty accurate. I bought two with the intention of building one and using the other to either cut up, or measure some other way, to make a scale drawing for the RC version.

I haven't done either!

One of them has only been opened to make sure it made it through the mail okay (it did), and if anyone is interested in buying it, let me know: $45 + shipping. If you order through Unicraft you may have to wait until they build the next batch, if they don't have it in stock.

tom

[typicalaimster]

Might want to talk to this guy..

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510967&highlight=global+hawk

Looks like he made one

[Slider758]

You're going for a Global Hawk design? Ducted fan engine or turbine to boot? I've been pondering a predator design for some time with some large glider wings and a pusher prop configuration with a 2 to 3 cid gasoline engine. It seems easier than the very cool looking Global Hawk. If any of you guys come up with something, be sure to post some pictures. That will be a cool project.

Dan

I was looking to a fairly large aircraft, so I can pack it with plenty of electronic kit, so maybe a turbine. I know nothing about EDF propulsion - what kind of weight plane can they can in the air? Approximate cost? A good brand?

I also looked into the Predator, the MQ9 variant is more viable since it doesn't have an inverted tail plane like the RQ1, which is bound to cause problems on take off and landing.

[Slider758]

http://www.northropgrumman.com/images/paris2005/pdfs/global_hawk_brochure.pdf

I too came across this document which provides the most reliable information yet, so if I can't get any more info I'll try and dimensionalise the diagram as accurately as possible.

[kd7ost]

I was looking to a fairly large aircraft, so I can pack it with plenty of electronic kit, so maybe a turbine. I know nothing about EDF propulsion - what kind of weight plane can they can in the air? Approximate cost? A good brand?

I also looked into the Predator, the MQ9 variant is more viable since it doesn't have an inverted tail plane like the RQ1, which is bound to cause problems on take off and landing.

I haven't used DF propulsion but know it doesn't have the power to weight ratio of turbines or propellor driven engines. They also suck a lot of fuel and run at a screaming RPM for glow fuel. The cost is also something I don't know. A lot more expensive than a prop plane.

The Predator in the variant you describe would be good but I think either would be OK. The tail planes can be made shorter and or landing gear taller to get higher ground clearance. It probably helps keep the prop off the ground if the pilot gets too rotation happy on take off. :D

In the interest of cost, vs run time, vs practicality at a low cost level, a gasoline powered engine like a Fuji or Zenoah, with a spring starter and magneto spark ignition would provide lots of thrust, is efficient while burning standard two cycle gasoline. It's cheap to run, easy to support and is a highly reliable power plant. No dead sticks. No battery needed. Just fuel, start and go. You only need to connect it to a servo for throttle control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to steer your project that way. It's just thats my thinking that makes me aim for a predator style airframe.

Certainly there is a huge cool factor in a Global Hawk variant. Very cool. Very unique.

Dan

[Slider758]

I haven't used DF propulsion but know it doesn't have the power to weight ratio of turbines or propellor driven engines. They also suck a lot of fuel and run at a screaming RPM for glow fuel. The cost is also something I don't know. A lot more expensive than a prop plane.

The Predator in the variant you describe would be good but I think either would be OK. The tail planes can be made shorter and or landing gear taller to get higher ground clearance. It probably helps keep the prop off the ground if the pilot gets too rotation happy on take off. :D

In the interest of cost, vs run time, vs practicality at a low cost level, a gasoline powered engine like a Fuji or Zenoah, with a spring starter and magneto spark ignition would provide lots of thrust, is efficient while burning standard two cycle gasoline. It's cheap to run, easy to support and is a highly reliable power plant. No dead sticks. No battery needed. Just fuel, start and go. You only need to connect it to a servo for throttle control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to steer your project that way. It's just thats my thinking that makes me aim for a predator style airframe.

Certainly there is a huge cool factor in a Global Hawk variant. Very cool. Very unique.

Dan

You make some really good points. I am leaning a bit more toward the Predator MQ-9. I certainly prefer petrol engines. The ducted design of the global hawk might be a bit out of my skill/knowledge range. Although, it is quite cool.