What's a good RTF plane for carrying payload?

[ShadesOfGray]

Hey,
I'm looking for a new test-bed plane for some electronics I am developing. It needs to be ready to fly, or almost ready to fly, and it needs to be able to take a payload, the bigger the better. I'd also like for it to be relatively inexpensive, if possible.

I've used a few Art-Tech Corsairs, but they just barely have enough room for what I'm developing, and they have also are incredibly fragile; they take damage on almost every single landing, no matter how soft. So now they're weighed down with extra epoxy and CF dowels to reinforce them.

Can anyone recommend a good plane to use as a test-stand for a payload being developed?

Thanks!

[realtimerecon]

How much payload ?...RTR

[ShadesOfGray]

Hmm, good question, much less than a lb. I haven't weighed it all yet. Probably on the order of 1/8 lb to 1/4 lb.... but we'd like to have flexibility to add more later. So the bigger the better, I guess.....

[realtimerecon]

I have taken a Hobby zone super cub RTF & modified it to the max.It will carry 5 ozs. camera for 1/2 hour flight.Or a 1/2 lb.payload for 20minutes.Does sound like what your thinking of ?...RTR

[ShadesOfGray]

Yeah, that sounds about like what we need...... you've still got the stock motor and everything on it? Is that plane aileron equipped? Our payload will probably end up being on the order of 1/2 a lb, or actually maybe more. If it were to be like 1/2 lb to 3/4 lb, what would you recommend?

[realtimerecon]

3/4 pound would be pushing it,i would think.Mine ,w/ all mods. would do it BUT flight safety might be at risk.Nothing in mine is stock.Gutted everything,and installed the best ...RTR

[realtimerecon]

Yeah, that sounds about like what we need...... you've still got the stock motor and everything on it? Is that plane aileron equipped? Our payload will probably end up being on the order of 1/2 a lb, or actually maybe more. If it were to be like 1/2 lb to 3/4 lb, what would you recommend?
Maybe a modified slow stick would do it...RTR

[Connexxion]

I would go for the Twin Star II of Multiplex.

[realtimerecon]

Twin star ,w/3/4 pound payload ?

[Connexxion]

It can carry a 0.5kg Nimh battery in stock configuration.

Feed the motors with lightweight lipo's and there's your payload capacity.

I wouldn't use the stock brushed motors,nut replace them by some "made in china" turnigy brushless motors instead to improve propulsion capabilities.

(If you have the $$ go for quality motors)

[patternpilot1]

I'm using this one for a project.. The payload I'm flying is currently 1 pound and I'm adding more witha live video down link and OSD.

Here is the link http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster6.htm

scott

[ShadesOfGray]

Yeah, I'd looked at the 6 foot telemaster. Only problem is the price; at $750, it'd be a very expensive mistake to crash the thing. Plus our design is trying to work within a 4 ft wingspan (Yeah, I know that'd be pretty ambitious if we end up with a 3/4lb payload), so I'm trying to keep the wingspan down for now.

As for the twinstar, that might work, but I'd prefer to keep it to single engine. We're going to hopefully end up building our own airplane, so in addition to being the payload test bed this plane has to be friendly to novice pilots and preferably have similar flight/control characteristics to the plane we develop. A high-wing, single-engine plane like the cub or telemaster would be ideal.

[ShadesOfGray]

I think probably we'll get a super cub when we finish destroying the crappy corsairs, and then if we end up being too heavy for that we'll go for a 6' telemaster and fly very very carefully lol, unless there are better options out there.

[realtimerecon]

Perhaps the Apprentice RTF will do ?...RTR

[ShadesOfGray]

What about a novice-friendly RTF ducted fan? Any sturdy options that are payload-capable? Any recommendations?

[realtimerecon]

None that i know of .If your talking a 3/4 pound payload.Take a look at Hobby Lobbys Apprentice RTF 300.00 ...RTR

[ShadesOfGray]

The supercub looks nice, but I really would prefer a plane with ailerons....

[Dave Eichstedt]

None that i know of .If your talking a 3/4 pound payload.Take a look at Hobby Lobbys Apprentice RTF 300.00 ...RTR

I think you mean the E-flite Apprentice ;-)

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFL2725

[robe_uk]

what about a flying wing, not sure if you can get them rtf, CenTexFlyer (i think its him) uses wings for AP etc and from what i've seen good results. You'll have to do a bit of searching for information.
Am just throwing out the idea as someday i would like a wing with a pod but never done anything about it.

Rob

[Flyboypaul]

Multiplex Mentor. On the stock setup it flies really light. You could easily add 2 pounds to this model and it would still fly great. And the foam is real simple to cut cavaties for all of your goodies. And its durability is a big plus.

Paul

[realtimerecon]

The supercub looks nice, but I really would prefer a plane with ailerons....
Easy enough to do.Or add flaps...RTR

[jnowell]

A ducted fan is not a very efficient power plant, and not very effective for hauling heavy loads unless you intend to go very fast. I'm having good luck with the Apprentice with almost 1 lb. of "cargo". With 2 - 3s 3200 mAh lipo packs and a Canon HF-100 camera I get around a 1 hour cruise. She fly's a little heavy, but will still slow down fairly well and is durable, easy to fly, and easy to repair. I had to hack the tail off of mine so I could get it into a 30" duffle bag for an international flight, had her back airworthy in about an hour with some foam safe CA. :D

Jason

[hendrix]

Hi.
I load all my planes with more electronics that you can imagine.
(gps autopilot, 2w video, pitot tubes and sensors, osd, 10ah pack etc.)
The best plane for the job you want is the Multiplex Magister or it's new version the Mentor i think and i must say that Elapor is the best material i have used.
If you don't like foam planes and willing to use an IC engine the next best thing is the Cessna 177 Cardinal or the Ready made from abs plastic
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/kitprofile.cfm?kit_id=1074
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/kitprofile.cfm?kit_id=2390
http://www.arcmodelfly.it/en/vmchk
Both can take wheels or floats.
The Ready flies better than the 177
Both are the most durable i have ever seen (i have them both) but also the heaviest.
The Cessna 177 Cardinal is one of the most beautiful planes i have seen so far but beware it is a fast flier.
Chris