First off I have no experience with VTOL beyond watching YouTube videos and lurking around here. I’m involved in a payload R&D project in which to date we have utilized quadcopters I’ve built as our testbed vehicles. I’d like to explore the feasibility of augmenting the project with a quadplane/VTOL test platform and do not know where to start so I thought I’d reach out to you all.
The main requirements I’m looking to achieve are:
10 to 15lbs payload capacity
2+ hour flight endurance with payload
Significantly increasing the sustained airspeed over the quadcopters we have been using
and of course VTOL capability as operating out of a stip is not feasible
My budget is somewhat limited and I can build from scratch, but would also be open to picking up a used vehicle or airframe if it gets me to a functioning test vehicle quicker.
Any advice, suggestions, or help you can provide will be greatly appriciated!
Your definition of what “limited budget” is going to determine what realistically you can do to have that amount of payload. That’s a pretty good size aircraft to carry it. To get an idea, a ready made one, you’re going to be into the 5-figure budget like the Foxtech REX 340 Canard Hybrid VTOL Drone. Maybe you can start there and research from there.
Thanks for the reply, Rollys, and yes I’m aware of the capital requirements involved, I should have been more specific in my language. A better way to say it is I am looking to get to a working test platform as economically as possible and that we have the capability of building so I do not need a finished off the shelf product such as the beautiful Foxtech REX 340 you mentioned.