RC Eagle for Bird Photography

This is a project for intermediate RC builders and flyers.The RC Eagle is constructed from the included pdf plans .It flies on three channels: ailerons, throttle and elevator.Powered by a 1300 Mah Lithium Polymer Battery flight times are around 15 mins on full throttle and exceed 20 mins if flown on half throttle.Copy the plans and scale/print according to your requirements.The plans here are adapted from the free licensed plans but I have greatly modified for increased flying performance.

The video posted here was made a while back with this same RC Bird ,with me at the controls. Notice how the birds follow it. Make sure your sound is turned on ,you'd love the relaxing background music. Full marks to my flying buddy for brilliant camera work.

Please vote for this Ible if you like it.Thanks!

Step 1:

The construction is straight forward .Print plans on a white paper.Cut and paste them on a 6mm Depron / Insulation Foam / Fanfold foam sheet.I used coloured Depron white and black sheets.Cut out parts according to templates in the plans.

The wing uses kfm3 airfoil section consisting of three layers of foam slightly sanded from the leading edge.

I used a small carbon fibre rod for wing spar.Plywood can also be used.

The tail is a v tail both tail surfaces are at 110 deg angles.

Join the parts together using a foam safe glue

Electronics used

3 x 9gram servos

ESC (electronic speed controller ) rated at 15 Amp

500 kv , 25/40 g Cd rom type Brushless motor with an 8 inch narrow plastic propeller

3 channel receiver

1500 Mah Lipo Battery.

Step 2:

Install three servos one in the tail and two on the wings

The speed controller goes in the front behind the motor .

Shade the wing with crayons to give it a feathery look

Step 3:

Hand launch gently and fly slow circuits .

If there are any birds in the vicinity there will surely come to check it out.

Keep on flying in slow gentle circles and you will be able to bring the birds quite closer for photography.