thegleek wrote:SecretSquirrel wrote:Well, after a number of delays (weather and free time) I got to maiden the MX2 yesterday. No video unfortunately as I was the only one at the field. I did snap a few pictures with my phone though.
Looks like a blast! How much would it take me out of pocket to buy that same exact plane, ready to fly? $250? $500? more? less?
Do you have to build it yourself from scratch or does it come pre-assembled?
Can you automatically control it using an Arduino Uno controller?
As it sits, it would cost you just over $2300, sans receiver and transmitter. That is just for the parts. Ready to fly would imply paying someone to put it together for you. No idea what the going rate there would be.
I comes in ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) form. Effectively, that means the structures are built and covered. You have to install all the radio gear, the engine, power system, landing and tail gear, glue on the rudder, etc. I probably have 20-30 hours invested in putting this thing together. Though I should say, I have a bit of engineering retentiveness and the insides of my planes look way cleaner that your average RC plane.
No way to control it with an Arduino. Not enough horsepower in an 8 bit micro. A 32 bit ARM core at a reasonable clock speed would be needed. Unless you are a fixed point math whiz and really know what you are doing, an FPU is needed as well. Too much math. You really wouldn't use a high performance aerobatics airframe anyway. And now for the anti-idiot part... You are talking about a 17lb airplane with a 5.5HP engine in the nose spinning a 22" prop at 7000rpm. It can and will maim, mutilate, and/or, kill idiots. Not a toy. Go read up on the AMA safety code. Even if you aren't an AMA member, it is worth following. </end rant>
note: Thegleek, I'm not calling you an idiot, BTW. The term was used more in the "here, hold my beer and watch this" idiot sense.