So I have a few UAV's to recycle or repurpose

If you're going to break down the ATA flight cases, I'm interested in the hardware.

How much for one? That would be pretty epic to have hanging from the ceiling.

Does it have to be nonprofit? Because I'm pretty sure that you can profit from this right here. I want one too.

I would love to hang one in my dads shop for him but I'm sure cross-country shipping would be killer.

Are they flyable? They look pretty impressive.

Any profit that is made is put back into the company so it can pay the rent on warehouses and cover other costs. I'm still trying to determine a price, but it will definately be challenge priced.

I'll see what kind of pics I can dig up on the model A, we're in the middle of developing the chassis to be sold as a kit car (or sell the design to someone that wants to market them) and this was the prototype. There's a T-bucket in the shop (with a few changes from the original) that will hopefully make the challenge in November.

You're really underselling those things if you make them challenge-priced. I think a Challenge budget is about what those cost to build, you can be sure just the UAVs themselves would have cost deep into the 5-digits when new.

The numbers I found were somewhere near $5 million for 15 aircraft, one of their selling points was the low price. They are all missing the brains, and most of them are missing the gyros, but they could adapted to fly by remote control in visual range pretty easy. I'm going to check with the local Naval Air museum and see if they want one to put on display.

Oh in that case I'd go for a 4-digit price range, they're still super-high-end RCs just missing a receiver and remote. I'm assuming they still have the "FPV" equipment? (Visible light & IR camera and UHF transmitter).

What are those two wall flowers hiding off to the right?

A Berkley and a Crosley Hotshot, lol.

PMed you

Ok, I mentioned this to my wife last night, and I feel it bears reposting.

Only on GRM would a guy show up with a pile of military spec UAV's , WITHIN challenge pricing, and people are more interested in the model A in the background and the stuff hiding in the weeds.

I'm not sure they are capable of stable flight without the flight computer and gyro. Most modern military equipment relies on the avionics package to maintain control. That being said it still has a gnarly 15hp oversize R/C plane engine and is capable of floating......

moparman76_69 wrote: I'm not sure they are capable of stable flight without the flight computer and gyro. Most modern military equipment relies on the avionics package to maintain control.

This has rudders and a blended wing body that's common with RCs, so I highly doubt it's an "inherently unstable" aircraft like a B2 or EF2000. Even if it were, that's a problem modern RC receivers can handle.

I must have them! I'll offer you all the money I have...let's see, 37, 38, 39, 39.50, 39.55...

Just a little fiberglass work away from a kick-ass R/C airboat.

SaR teams would love to have those things.

Just saw an article about using them to hunt pest animals like boar.

The pipeline flights as mentioned would also be a good use.

Logging surveys maybe if your camera package is decent.

All depends how easy parts are to get though. If its off the shelf Lycoming, Continental, Rotax or Jabaru stuff that's simple, but if you have some custom system in there it'll get pretty expensive in a hurry.

The0retical wrote: Just saw an article about using them to hunt pest animals like boar.

I know the guy who does that from SA forums, username "bushman." He got featured in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMkFokhczo

(part 1 of 4)

Also in for more on the Ford and the potential of having one for myself!

Interested. I could pick this up as I am not that far away.

Paul

As a lifelong RC airplane nut, I am so berkeleying jealous right now.

My advice would be to keep and fly it. The guys in your local RC club would be MORE than happy to help you get it set up and flying.

I still need to find a new home for these. I will be heading down to Florida maybe in the next couple weeks and definitely towards the end of November if you're worried about freight charges and live in the southeast. I'm trying to get $1500 or so for the most complete one with the catapult launching system and a spare fuselage with spare motor. I've also got one with good wings that I'd like to get $1000 for, one with cracked wings that could be repaired or turned into a display for $800 and a few fuselages without wings for $500 if you're looking to make a kickass R/C boat or something.

Where are you coming to in Florida? I'm intrigued and have cash...

Sent you a pm. If you don't receive it please email me at unk577@yahoo.com with your contact info.