When I saw this video from rctestflight I knew I will build something like that for myself. A voila, few months later it is done. Here is Dropship Glider.

Dropship glider - depron FPV delta glider

It is 29cm long with 20cm wingspan. Weights 97g AUW and has 21g/dm^2 wing loading. So, in theory, should glide. Somehow... If I got center of gravity right. And did not made ailerons too big. Or...

Dropship glider - depron FPV delta glider

Delta 6mm Depron "wing" is attached to 6mm carbon fiber rod and has some quite big dihedral: 15 degrees.

Dropship glider - depron FPV delta glider

The biggest problem was radio link and mixer for ailerons. I could not use my Taranis: I need that for a carrier and only radio control link I had was EM-16 with PPM output only and no way to setup any kind of mixer. The radio just has no "features" like that...

So, took one Arduino Pro Mini and wrote short program that acts as PPM decoder and mixer for ailerons.

Dropship glider - depron FPV delta glider Arduino

  • power is supplied by 1S LiPo taken from my Tiny Whoop
  • FPV AIO Eachine TX02 also taken from my Tine Whoop
  • 5V is supplied from cheap, regulated, step-up converter
  • 3rd servo is to release tether

First flight, or rather drop, tomorrow. There will be a video from the event of course...