Large Model Association Forum

Greetings to you all.
I met some of you at Gaydon and saw first hand your fantastic aircraft.

I'm a PhD student at Cranfield University and my research looks at the health of remotely piloted aircraft and the different methods that can be used to improve the risk margin and reduce long term maintenance costs.
Following Gaydon I had an idea how my interest in large model aircraft and engineering could combine. I'm very interested in flight test of aircraft as part of my continuing professional development.

I have some equipment that when fitted to an aircraft allows me to calculate various useful pieces of information such as airspeed, accelerations, roll rates, fuel flow, and others.
I can turn the data produced into information a pilot can understand.
This can be used so that on future flights when the data system is not fitted the pilot will be in control of the aircraft with a fuller understanding of its operating limits.

If there are any pilots that would be interested I would very much like to discuss running a flight test of their aircraft with them.
My proposal is that the pilot/builder and myself discuss how best my instruments(very small) could be fitted and then fit up the aircraft. The pilot then flies their aircraft and performs some specific maneuvers. I will then perform an analysis and having confirmed the envelope has been well defined remove the test equipment and write a report on the aircraft performance and advice for operations.

There will be no charge on my part except for the experience.
What does everyone think?

Hi Jonathan, there are sensor modules on the market that can be fitted to model aircraft, these then send telemetry to the pilots transmitter, no doubt some of the larger more expensive aircraft out there will have these fitted already. Two examples I can think of are linked below;

Hitec - http://hitecrcd.com/products/aircraft-r ... try-system

Futaba - http://www.futaba-rc.com/accessories/futm0850.html

J

Using a different system to the proprietary systems of Hitec & Futaba allows me to customise my sensors, sample rates and in flight commands to an extend not possible with a commercial solution. I generally log data to an SD card on the aircraft at a higher rate than I send over the telemetry system.
It also means I don't have to do reverse engineer the protocol to add new sensors not sold by Hitec or Futaba. I understand that the JR x-bus system is a modified version of I2C but the documentation hasn't been released to my knowledge.
I have previously used a separate type of telemetry module based in the 433Mhz ISM band.

Hi jonathan
I am in the middle of building a 1/5 scale model of the Aero-Commander which I hope should be ready to fly next year if the aircraft and me can help you in any way please let me know as I am just down the road in Walnut Tree Milton Keynes. I know Cranfield very well used to use the old dacota club long time ago.
Regards
Steve

Jonathan

I would be more than happy to help you out with providing suitable models to mount your sensors. I have several models both power and gliders that can carry your sensors and perform as you request (within sensible safety margins). You never know, we may both learn something.
I have a wealth of experience in using telemetry on both 433 and 2.4ghz both as stand alone kit and also the modern Futaba built in telemetry.

If you would like to discuss further please first look at my team’s website

www.ghostsquadron.co.uk

to see our credentials and then feel free to give me a call any evening after about 7.30pm on 01923 857009

Regards

John