Texas Buzzard is a UAS platform capable of long duration flight, suitable as a sensor test-bed, and also for competition in the 2nd annual AUVSI UAV competition. It began life as a RnR Products Inc. SB-XC sailplane model, but the Flight Mechanics Laboratory converted it into a motor glider by installing an O.S. FS-70 engine and landing gear. A piccolo autopilot was installed to provide autonomous waypoint navigation capability.
Features:
- Fuel systems: internal tank 2.8 gal, using pressurized Coleman stove fuel
- Power plant: modified OS 1.2 Surpass, 4 stroke engine, single cylinder, 1.1 BHP at 11000 rpm, solid state ignition
- Landing gear: Dolly take-off, skid landing
Geometry:
- Wingspan: 20 ft
- Wing area: 1545 in^2
- Aspect Ratio: 18.7
- Airfoil: SD-2048
- Length: 7 ft
- Fuselage payload volume: 1 cu ft
- Propeller: 12″ diameter, 8″ pitch
Weight:
- MTOW: 20 lbs