Want a Mini Stinger? You can get one online. There are spare parts available as well.

The original Multiplex FunCopter just got a whole lot better! The new FunCopter V2 boasts a quiet, more powerful, brushless motor along with revanped flybar paddles for smoother, neutral handling and a redesigned tail rotor hub and shaft for added durability. This improved heli makes your flying experience better than ever! The overall low number of parts  of the FunCopter makes repairs relatively straight-forward and simple. Based upon the popular design of the Lite Machines™ Corona, the FunCopter V2 maintains the unique features of the original with a special direct drive train system providing higher efficiency for longer flight times and extremely flexible rotor blades for durability and more crash-resistance.

Fliers going from fixed wing flight or stepping up from coaxial helis will enjoy the flexibility and reliability that the FunCopter V2 provides. This is the perfect heli for the beginner pilot.

Multiplex FunCopter RR features at a glance: -

• Fully assembled, fixed-pitch, 4-channel model helicopter with yaw, pitch, roll, and throttle control
• Superb repairability with low number of  parts
• Unique quiet direct-drive power system
• Removable elapor® body
• Highly-flexible main rotor blades for maximum durability
• Easily Accessible Electronics
• Fixed Pitch Rotors
• Long Flight Times
• Ultra Durable Design and Construction

Specifications:

• Fuselage Length – 34 in.
• Rotor Diameter – 31 in.
• Weight – 45 oz.

Tired of getting dad the same old tie every year?

• Great little helicopter, flies really well - The Mini Stinger flies well out of the box, and full 4 channel control lets you fly the helicopter anywhere you’d like it to go.
• Coaxial Stability – The Mini Stinger is a coaxial helicopter, which means that it flies using 2 main rotor blades, each spinning in opposite directions. This eliminates the need for a tail rotor and adds lots of stability.
• No previous RC Helicopter Experience Needed – The Mini Stinger is a fun RC helicopter that works right out of the box, no previous RC helicopter experience is needed.
• Cool Design, Low Cost – As far as toy helicopters go, the Mini Stinger gives you a lot of fun for the cost. It also features a neat design and flashy yellow color scheme.

Want a Mini Stinger? You can get one online. There are spare parts available as well.

Our sources here at RChelicopter.com tell us that this video was shot and put together by the same person who put together this tutorial on how to shoot video like this. The video below is from this tutorial.

The video below shows the Draganflyer X6 being used by the Mesa County’s Sheriffs office in a SWAT training exercise.

These new cutting edge technologies from Draganfly Innovations represent the ultimate in UAV RC Helicopter technology. Draganflys leading edge hand held ground control station incorporates all the features of their already awesome hand held controller with the features of their video base station. You can view live video transmitted from the Draganflyer X6 or the Draganflyer X8 in the palm of your hand while you fly the helicopter. The Draganfly hand held ground control station has an embedded computer running a linux operating system which allows the user to run Draganview software on the 6.3 inch bright day light viewable LCD screen.

Draganfly Innovations has been making big news at the 2010 AUVSI conference in Denver Colorado. For two days in a row they have been written about in AUVSI daily published newspaper Unmanned News. The first article talked about the newly released heavy payload Draganflyer X8, and the second article focused on the exciting new hand held ground control station.

The Denver post has even published an article on the Draganfly X6 being used by the Mesa County Sheriffs department. This article details how the Mesa County Sheriffs department is working with the FAA in order to use the Draganflyer X6 for police operations.

Draganfly Innovations continues to lead the way in UAV RC Helicopter Technology.

Draganfly Innovations has made another UAV helicopter.

The Draganflyer X8 UAV is larger than the X4 and the X6, and it can carry up to 1 kilogram in camera payloads. The X8′s going to offer some more features, such as compatability with DSLR cameras and digital video transmitters. Check out this video (a computer rendering of the X8 in flight with an SLR camera).

One of the major new improvements to the Draganflyer X8 is the inclusion of support for the new IP video camera systems. IP cameras use the same technology your laptop uses to connect to the internet to communicate and transmit video. Basically, the IP cameras form their own network with your computer, allowing you to view the live video feed over the internet. IP cameras support the following features:

• Simultaneous pictures and video – Each IP camera has an internal memory buffer that stores video before it is transmitted. This means that you can take high resolution digital still photos with the IP camera while it is still recording video, allowing you to get exactly the pictures that you need.
• Security and encryption – The IP cameras operate over their own wireless network, which can be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to the video stream.
• Reduced interference – Digital video is much less susceptible to interference than analog video. Reduced signal strength usually results in a lower frame rate, but not decreased image quality.

IP video cameras will work with the Draganflyer X8 and X6 sometime in the near future, but can’t be used on the smaller X4 due to weight limitations.

Interested in UAV helicopters? You can learn more about the Draganflyer X8 UAV helicopter on Draganfly’s website. You can also visit the AUVSI website for scheduling, hotel, transport, and entrance fee information regarding the AUVSI 2010 conference.

Similarities between RC Helicopter and RC Airplane Flight

• Both RC helicopters and RC airplanes behave in similar ways when flying forward. Left and right bank will still cause you to turn your heli in the expected direction, and pitching up or down will cause you to slow down or speed up.
• If you can keep track of your RC planes orientation, then it won’t be difficult to do the same with a helicopter.
• The basic radio layout is the same across transmitter modes.

Differences between RC Helicopter and RC Airplane Flight

• Any helicopter pilot who can hover can takeoff and land. With an airplane, taking off and landing is usually considered harder than straight and level flight.
• When flying forward with a helicopter, you have to keep the nose down to keep flying forward.
• Hovering a helicopter is a completely different process than hovering a 3-D airplane.
• Airplanes generally need a larger area to fly in than helicopters.
• When more than one person is flying an airplane at a field, they generally fly planes in a pattern around the runway. Helicopter pilots tend to choose their own zones in the air, which they stay in and do not leave.

Recent radio systems generally have modes for both airplanes and helicopters, but there are a few other differences. RC helicopter radios lack the ratchet that RC airplane radios have on the throttle. The ratchet is great for keeping the throttle setting constant on an RC airplane, but it is not good for helicopters because variations in the throttle setting smaller than the graduations on the ratchet may need to be made. RC helicopter radios also have a 3 position flight mode switch on the left side (normal, idle up 1, idle up 2) and a 2 position throttle hold switch on the right side.

Motors, engines, batteries, and ESCs are usually interchangeable between helicopters and airplanes. Motors that are specifically designed for helicopters use more oil in the fuel and have a larger heatsink.

The AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International) was created in 1972 when the use of unmanned target drones in the Vietnam War prompted the creation of the National Association of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (NARPV). NARPV eventually grew as the industry expanded, leading to the formation of the current AUVSI organization. The AUVSI is promotes the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through education, communication, and leadership. This year’s AUVSI conference is expecting record attendance of over 5000 visitors from over 30 different countries. There will also be more than 100 international speakers giving presentations on the UAV industry and latest developments. This years tradeshow will feature live demonstrations from a wide variety of exhibits. Draganfly Innovations Inc. was the first company to demonstrate live at the AUVSI at the 2009 conference, blazing the trail for other live demonstrations in the following years.

Draganfly Innovations Inc. staff will be flying their RC helicopters indoors, and will be demonstrating their  helicopters features including aerial photography, aerial videography, and the computer controlled base station with wireless telemetry and an HUD display. Because we will be flying indoors we will not be able to demonstrate the GPS hold feature.  The following AUVSI promotional video shows some of the technology that will be present at this years conference.

You can learn more about the Draganflyer UAV helicopters on draganfly.com. You can also visit the AUVSI website for scheduling, hotel, transport, and entrance fee information.

• Apache Longbow, an attack helicopter used by the military
• Blackhawk, one of the most sophisticated manned helicopters in the world
• Coast Guard helicopters which fly over water on rescue missions
• Popular Robinson made helicopters used by the police and civil aviation
• RC Draganflyer X6 and Grumman MQ8 Firescout UAVs

The episode talks about how the Draganflyer RC helicopters use a new and very  very cool flight control system; which controls the RC helicopter by changing each electric motors speed individually. The simplicity and reliability of this design has applications in future helicopter designs, and also makes the Draganflyer X6 UAV perfect for aerial reconnaissance and photography. The Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter’s advanced flight computer is also demonstrated, and the auto-land and GPS features are shown.

You can watch the episode on the History Channel, or purchase the entire season from Amazon.com.

Features of The New Mini Base Station

The Mini Base Station can fit in the pre-cut slots of the soft transport case. Each part is secured with high density foam, which protects and secures parts during transport. The Mini Base Station features a special collapsible design which allows it to deploy in seconds, and fold up for storage. The base station legs are held together with a high tension elastic chord so that they click together easily. The top of the base tripod features a precision machined metal head, which securely locks all 3 collapsible legs together and holds the base station electronics and antennas.

The telemetry software allows you to quickly and easily see what the helicopter is seeing in real time. Geo-tagged photos allow all your aerial pictures to show up in Google Earth and flight data logging shows the GPS position and altitude where each was taken. The Draganflyer UAV’s flight path is also displayed, with photo thumbnails showing where and at what altitude pictures were taken along the flight path. A full compliment of flight instruments is displayed and the display can be quickly toggled between instrument and Heads Up Display mode, which displays critical flight information over a live video feed. The Draganview software is also compatible with all the camera payloads we offer, even special purpose models such as FLIR infrared and low-light night vision.

Unlike the watertight case of the Standard Base Station , the new Mini Base Station uses a lightweight and strong rubber platform to securely hold your laptop or video recording device. The rubber mesh detaches easily for storage in the soft transport case, and sufficiently small laptop computers can even be stored in the case alongside it.

The new Mini Base Station is powered by a high energy density Lithium Polymer Battery for fast charge times and long run times. The included charging station automatically charges and balances the cells in each battery pack, ensuring long life and good performance. The base station electronics are all contained in a precision machined aluminum case.

Learn more about the new Mini Base Station and Draganflyer RC Helicopter UAVs.

The Draganflyer X6  RC helicopter was recently featured at the Blue Line Police Tradeshow as part of the Ontario Provincial Police Department’s (OPP) booth. The  Tradeshow runs once each year and provides an opportunity  for companies to demonstrate their products and innovations to Canadian Police Services. These  Include:

• Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Police Agencies
• Parks Canada
• Customs Canada
• The Ministry of the Environment
• Correctional Services

Other security and law enforcement  services that work for hospitals, transit systems, colleges, and also private business attend the Blue Line Tradeshow to keep up with the latest law enforcement technology developments.

This year’s event also had demonstrations of ambidextrous assault rifles, new generation gas masks, and even color-coded handcuffs. As CTV Toronto reports: “It (The Blue Line Tradeshow) comes as the city prepares for the G20 convention and the arrival of some of the world’s top leaders – giving officers a glimpse of how the latest technology can combat everything from rowdy crowds and bomb threats to outward acts of terrorism.”

Security is more than just weapons though, as forensic officer with the Ontario Provincial Police Department (OPP) Richard Cunningham elabortates: “It’s about all the tools that are available to keep the public – and the officers – safe.” Officer Cunningham is one of the Ontario Police Departments two pilots authorized to fly the Draganflyer X6 helicopter UAV. The Ontario police use the Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter as a stable, secure UAV aerial platform to take pictures and video of crime scenes.

Officer Cunningham goes on to say that the Draganflyer X6 UAV may see other future applications, including those which directly endanger police officers (such as a bomb threat).

You can learn more about the Draganflyer X6 and X4 UAV RC helicopters on our website, or read the CTV Toronto article.

The helicopter became a prominent military asset during the Korean conflict of the early 1950s. The United States Army started using helicopters for medical evacuation in order to increase the survival rate of critically wounded soldiers. Helicopters were used in conjunction with forward mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH units).

When many people think of helicopters being used for medical evacuation in Korea the Bell H13 Sioux (designated the Bell-47 by the US Army) is the one that most comes to mind. Most people know this helicopter as the MASH helicopter because of its important role in the TV series MASH. EF has come out with an amazing flying replica of this famous MASH helicopter.

Included with the EF MASH Rescue Chopper

The EF MASH Rescue Chopper includes everything you need to fly, right out of the box. This is what is included:

• 2.4 GHz 4 Channel Transmitter
• RTF MASH Rescue Chopper
• 7.4v 800 mAh LiPo Battery for the Helicopter
• Two 7.6 gram Micro Servos
• 3 in 1 2.4GHz receiver

Main Features of the EF MASH Rescue Chopper Indoor RTF RC Electric Helicopter

The EF MASH Rescue Chopper is easy and fun to fly while still maintaining the stand off scale looks of the helicopters used in the TV series MASH. The dual rotors (co-axial) make this micro electric helicopter easy to fly and perfect for the beginner RC helicopter pilot. Experienced helicopter pilots can work on there skills to make the flight look as realistic as possible.

It is very quick to get the EF MASH Rescue Chopper ready to fly. All you will need is a screw driver and 8 AA batteries. The MASH Rescue Chopper Indoor RC electric helicopter does require a small amount of assembly. Before you begin the assembly start charging the LiPo battery. This way you will be flying the helicopter in no time.

This mini indoor electric helicopter has a coaxial rotor design which provides great stability, and eliminates the need for a separate tail rotor to control torque induced yaw (rotation around the main rotor axis). Coaxial RC electric helicopters are great for flying indoors, because they are both stable and offer precision control.

A 3.7 volt LiPo battery powers the EF MASH Rescue Chopper for a flight time of eight to ten minutes. The battery is charged in the controlled and takes about 30 minutes to charge. To get maximum enjoyment out of your helicopter it is a good idea to buy a spare battery for it. This way you can be charging a battery while flying and cut down your down time.

If you do happen to have a mishap and crash the MASH Rescue Chopper you will be amazed at how incredibly resilient it is. However things do and can break, but not to worry as a full line of inexpensive replacement parts are also offered for this helicopter.

In summary if you want to try some basic scale electric RC Helicopter flying you should look into buying the EF MASH Rescue Helicopter.

Included with the EVO Flight Mini Stinger

The EVO Flight Mini Stinger includes everything you need to fly, right out of the box. Here’s what is included:

• The EVO Flight Mini Stinger Micro RC Helicopter
• A 2.4 GHz, DSM-2 Spread Spectrum Transmitter (requires 4AA Batteries)
• A Portable Lipo Charger built into the transmitter
• 1 cell 3.7V 110mAh Li-Po Battery

The Evo Flight Mini Stinger is great for beginner and experienced pilots, because you do not have to buy any additional parts. You can use this helicopter to get experience and practice your orientation indoors when you cannot fly outdoors because of the weather.

Main Features of the Evo Flight Mini Stinger Indoor RTF RC Electric Helicopter

Like the Blade MCX the Evo Flight Mini Stinger has a proportional four channel radio. Four channel control means that pilots can fly the helicopter with four dimensions of freedom. The Evo Flight Mini Stinger can fly up/down, rotate left/right, pitch forwards/backwards, and bank left/right. With a four channel radio you can precisely control the Evo Flight Mini Stingers’ movement through all three dimensions. With a rotor size of 188mm (7.4”) and a length of 213mm (8.4”) this helicopter can easily fit in the palm of your hand.

The coaxial rotor design of the EVO Flight Mini Stinger provides this helicopter with great stability, and eliminates the need for a separate tail rotor to control yaw (rotation about the main rotor axis). The main rotors spin in opposite directions, canceling out rotor torque caused by their rotation. Coaxial RC helicopter are great for flying indoors, because of their stability and the precision control provided.

The Evo Flight Mini Stinger uses a tiny 1 cell lithium polymer battery for power. Unlike most micro RC helicopters, the battery is removable and interchangeable. Each cell provides 3.7 volts of power with a capacity of 110 mAh (Milli ampere hours). You charge the battery using the included transmitter, which runs off four “AA” alkaline batteries. A typical charge takes about 30 minutes and provides an average flight time of 6 to 8 minutes. Because the battery is interchangeable, we recommend that you purchase an extra so that you can use one while the other is charging.

Weighing only 1 ounce, the Evo Flight Mini Stinger is virtually crash proof. A sudden drop from a few feet above the ground won’t damage it, and in most cases minor collisions with walls are not a problem. Although it is not indestructible, the Evo Flights durability makes it an ideal present for anyone over 12 years of age.
If you want to get into the exciting world of RC helicopters, the Evo Flight Mini Stinger makes a great starting place. It will show you all the basics of RC helicopter flight, and can be used as a starting place to more advanced models. If you’re already an experienced RC helicopter pilot, you’ll like the Mini Stingers control and stability. Watch our site for tutorials on the Mini Stinger, including a how to for installing replacement parts.

UAV Option New to Law Enforcement Across the Country

By Heather S. Benjamin, PIO/Information and Communication Manager
Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado

On August 31, 2009, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado attained monumental authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations. The authorization granted by the FAA allows the Sheriff’s Office to conduct tests and evaluation flights of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Draganflyer X6, by receiving a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). The COA is granted by the FAA for a one year period allowing the agency to test their UAV.

The Draganflyer X6 was chosen mainly because it fit the COA requirements and fit the needs of our agency simultaneously, with our desire to make the FAA process as stream lined as possible. Ben Miller says he reviewed at least 50 various UAV products before selecting the Draganflyer X6.

This comes after an 18 month research project where extensive thought and comparison of UAVs, cost, application process with the FAA, and more were considered. Most recently, the Sheriff’s Office completed a six month application process through the FAA to receive a COA and has since begun to evaluate the UAV. COAs are known amongst the UAS industry as moderately unattainable and even agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have been denied, according to the FAA website.

The Draganflyer X6 is a small, remotely operated, electric helicopter built by Draganfly Innovations of Saskatchewan, Canada. Built of mostly carbon fiber the Draganflyer X6 overall weight is just over two pounds and can carry a payload of just over one pound. Payloads include the FLIR Tau infrared camera and a Panasonic Lumix LX3 digital still camera. Payloads are remotely operated and real time images/video are visible via a laptop operated on a ground station.

Operations of unmanned aerial vehicles by public agencies in the National Airspace (NAS) is a predominantly uncharted territory and thus the FAA regulations are considered interim at best, according to the FAA website. The Sheriff’s Office hopes to provide flight mission data to the FAA to aid them in the drafting of federal aviation regulations to govern the use of these small unmanned systems. The COA provides the Sheriff’s Office approval to fly the Draganflyer X6 in an area two miles in diameter located five miles southeast of the Grand Junction Regional Airport with an operational ceiling no greater than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). These flights must remain visual line of sight (VLOS) and are not allowed after dark. Local air traffic must be contacted 24 hours and 15 minutes prior to flight as well as filing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) describing specific flight operations.

“This is an applicable technology to law enforcement that I am convinced will save lives,” the Sheriff’s Office Quartermaster Ben Miller, said. Miller is one of two employees who are trained to operate the Draganflyer X6.

The Draganflyer X6 model is priced at about $25,000 US dollars in 2009, but the Sheriff’s Office currently has it under a lease agreement. The company, Draganfly Innovations Incorporated is a privately owned company who have been a pleasure to work with through this process, Miller said. Draganfly has a relationship with law enforcement in Canada, most likely based on the location of the company and thus was excited to work with a U.S. law enforcement agency who is enthusiastic about venturing in new FAA territory.

Casey Dodson flying the Draganflyer X6

Without trying any products but deciding on the Draganflyer X6, as an agency we couldn’t justify an outright purchase of the product. The FAA won’t permit demonstrations of UAVs without COAs. Thus, we were limited to on-line videos and personal recommendations, and technical articles to help us make our decision on the product that most fit our project guidelines.

“Right now we don’t own this equipment. We’re struggling to figure out how this exceptional technology that we believe will save lives can fit in an environment where out budget is cut and our employees are losing ground in employment benefits as cost savings measures are continually implemented by our County government,” Sheriff Stan Hilkey said. “Using tax payer funds for this type of important research and development has never been more unpopular. When and if the time comes to try and purchase this equipment we may attempt to use seized drug funds from our local seizure board, which will make this more acceptable to our struggling constituency, and also increase the collaboration with the resource as the seizure board has broad representation from all law enforcement agencies in our County.”

The Draganflyer X6 was chosen mainly because it fit the COA requirements and fit the needs of our agency simultaneously, with our desire to make the FAA process as stream lined as possible. Ben Miller says he reviewed at least 50 various UAV products before selecting the Draganflyer X6.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has, to date, conducted over 72 Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in 2009. “With the ability to attain a bird’s eye view of a search area for a fraction of the cost of operating full-scale aviation assets, UAS technology is a great fit,” Hilkey said.

In direct reference to a SAR mission, anytime you have terrain that takes time to get across, you will save significant time by flying it. The perspective of having eyes at ground level – essentially

Ben Miller at the Command Center

six feet off the ground, versus having ‘eyes’ 200 feet off the ground – is greatly beneficial when looking at a vast amount of terrain. We can over lap that view with maps, information from the reporting party and this is one way to make a quicker incident action plan, and in Colorado less time to rescue equals more lives saved. We do anticipate that an initial

deployment during the first phases of a ‘hasty searching’ that occurs in SAR events could potentially save man hours and volunteer hours in the field.

Our effort is solidly based on the desire to add tools to make our jobs easier and safer, Hilkey emphasizes. In the SAR aspect, if we can deploy and find either our objective or clues to it, then it has proven to be valuable, especially in circumstances where persons are at risk due to climate, terrain, health, etc. In a tactical aspect, the measurement would be more in officer safety. How can we measure the ability to see hostile threats, or tactically be safer because we know the layout of a compound, terrain, etc., Hilkey went on to say.

Over the summer months of 2009, about 40 miles outside of Grand Junction, in a remote area along a two lane state highway, a pick-up truck with a trailer attached and a semi-truck crashed spilling hundreds of gallons of an acidic material. The Grand Junction Haz-Mat team arrived, but not before a number of first responders who attempted to control traffic and assist the occupants of the vehicles were exposed to toxic gases. Hazardous fumes were a major concern and trying to determine a safe boundary for all involved as well as the media took several hours. It is anticipated that the Draganflyer X6 could have been put in the air, above the spill with either live video and/or sensor payloads to quickly determine a safe range from the acidic fumes and total size of contaminated area.

Casey Dodson and Ben Miller

The X6 can also provide crime scene photographs, evidentiary search support and real time mission data to special response teams inside law enforcement. Tactical operations, such as a previous incident where we had a man who was thought to have barricaded himself in his house or position himself in the field surrounding his house. But deputies knew he had weapons and he was believed to be a danger to law enforcement. Looking back on that SWAT operation that took several hours through the night and into the early morning, Commanders on-scene believe that if we had the Draganflyer X6 in operation at the time, it could have been used to clear the farm field surrounding the suspect’s house. The man hours, the labor and the time it took to surround a large farm field – covering about ¼ of a mile around the house – could have been cut down to 20 or 30 minutes with one man operating the Draganflyer X6.

These are only a few examples of how Hilkey and his staff hope to put the Draganflyer X6 to use over the next year, really putting it to the test of this agency’s needs and thoroughly testing it for all the benefits to law enforcement. For any agency interested in learning more about the testing phase or the equipment being used by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, email Miller at Benjamin.Miller@mesacounty.us.

The weather was extremely cold with winds blowing at 20kmh/12.4mph creating a wind chill of -37°C / -34.6°F . The Draganflyer X6 and held hand transmitter unit performed extremely well in these harsh conditions. The only limitations that were encounter were that of the operators’ hands becoming too cold to fly. In order to remedy this, the operators switched off. While one operator was flying the Draganflyer X6 the other operated sat in a warm vehicle to warm their hands.

The Draganflyer X6 UAV RC Helicopter was used to take aerial photos of the scene of this urban traffic accident. The aerial of photos of this accident will be used by the Saskatoon Police to provide clear evidence for use in their investigation of this traffic accident.

Draganfly Innovations operating under approval of Transport Canada is able to provide assistance to police agencies with Draganflyer UAV helicopters day or night with in a 250 km radius of the city of Saskatoon in rural or urban environments. This 250 km range covers 10 of the 15 cities in Saskatchewan.

The Ontario Provincial Police (Kenora and Thunder Bay) operating under transport Canada approval is able to operate Draganflyer UAV helicopters in the province of Ontario. The Draganflyer X6 represents the first federally approved, commercially produced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by an emergency service in North America.

Draganflyer UAV Helicopter Virtual Tour Panorama

To build one of these panoramic virtual tours aDraganflyer X6 or Draganflyer X4 is flown to the desired altitude. At which point aerial photos are taken at every 20° for a total of 18 aerial photos. Then a photo is taken with the camera facing directly down. Then the photos will be combined by using panorama tools graphical interface (PTgui) software.

For more information on how to get your Draganlfyer X6 or Draganflyer X4 pictures made into a virtual panoramic tour we recommend you check out the PTgui forums or contact NorthStudio.com.

Using the Draganflyer X6 UAV RC Helicopter to take aerial pictures of the scene provides the police with clear evidence to use in their investigation. Because the Draganflyer X6 can be rapidly deployed the police are able to minimize the amount of time the road way had to be closed from traffic. It is far quicker and easier for the police to use the Draganflyer X6 than to use a conventional aircraft or boom truck.

This is not the first time the Draganflyer X6 UAV RC Helicopter has been used by the Saskatoon Police Service. On May 28 2009 the Draganflyer X6 saw its first operation use in traffic collision photography.

Both the Ontario Provincial Police and the Saskatoon Police Service have been approved by Transport Canada to use the Draganflyer X6 in their daily operations. Recently the Draganflyer X6 and the Ontario Provincial Police were featured in Blueline magazine. Blueline magazine is the premiere Canadian Law Enforcement magazine.

The Draganflyer X6 has also received approval by the United States Federal Aviation Authority in the form of a certificate of authority (COA) to be operated by the Mesa County Sheriff for use in their policing operations.

UAV RC Helicopters are becoming extremely useful tools for police agencies. They have the benefits of reducing the cost of obtaining aerial photographs in evidence gathering as well as being very quick to deploy. By being able to be deployed quickly they help the police gather evidence faster and in the case of traffic accidents allow the police to get traffic moving again sooner.

This video depicts the Draganflyer X4 RC Helicopter being quickly set up and flown from its case which has an optional detectable back pack harness.

In this video we see the Draganflyer X4 being transported in its soft pack with back pack harness on a man riding a mountain bike. This truly shows has easy it is to pack the Draganflyer X4 into a remote location.

One of the camera payloads the Draganflyer X4 RC Helicopter can carry is the Panasonic FX-580 12.1 Mega Pixel Digital Still camera. This video gives a good description of how this camera integrates with in the Draganflyer X4 System.

This video gives us a picture in picture of what the camera sees as the rc helicopter is flying. The video is transmitted live while recording to the on board digital video camera.

Another camera payload option for the Draganflyer X4 is a micro video board camera with a on board digital video recorder. This video gives you the details of the Micro Video board camera.

The Draganflyer X4 RC Helicopter, as demonstrated by these videos, is a very versitile and portable UAV aerial video and aerial photography platform. We here at RCHelicopter.com will be looking for new videos from Draganfly Innovations.

Flying unmanned aerial vehicles in the United States is governed by the FAA as they control the airspace. In order to operate a UAV in US airspace you must receive authorization from the the FAA. The FAA currently classifies all UAVs’ including the Draganflyer X6 as a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle. This is the same classification used for the aerial vehicles that the military uses in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Mesa County Sheriffs office had to complete a complicated permitting process, meeting all the stiff FAA requirements specifically in the area of safety. The Draganflyer X6 was able to met all the requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This allows the Mesa County Sheriffs Office to obtain a certificate of authority (COA) from the FAA. By obtaining the certificate of authority the Mesa county Sheriffs office can submit a Notice to Airmen to the FAA which in turn allows them to conduct operations with the Draganflyer X6. Read more in this article by the Grand Junction Free Press.

If you are in the New York area go out to the 2009 Gizmodo Gallary . There you will find a host of high tech gadgetry including the brand new Draganflyer X8 RC Helicopter.
The Gizmodo Gallery is a place for the tech world to celebrate gadgetry as art and history. Check out the post on Gizmodo

The Gizmodo 2009 Gallery is Open

• Wednesday, September 23 through Friday, September 25

  12noon – 8pm

The Gizmodo Gallery is located at :

View Larger Map

Draganfly Innovations releases their latest UAV helicopter, the Draganflyer X4.

Diverging from the Draganflyer X6′s larger 6 rotor design, the Draganflyer X4 features the same quad rotor design used by older RC helicopters. Four brushless motors independently drive four carbon fiber rotor blades, all controlled by an advanced flight computer.

The flight computer uses SteadyFlight technology to process the inputs of seven individual sensors, including:

• A barometric pressure sensor
• Three accelerometers
• Three gyroscopes

The avionics computer reads sensor outputs and precisely determines the motor speeds required to keep the helicopter flying straight and level. If selected by the pilot, a barometric pressure sensor is used by the helicopter to maintain altitude. Properly trimmed and balanced, the helicopter will hold its position in the air allowing you to do excellent aerial photography and videography.

Four different cameras have been customized to work with our latest RC helicopter, including:

• A 12.1 MP digital still and video camera
• A micro color video camera
• low-light black and white video camera
• A FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) video camera

These cameras transmit wireless video via a 5.8 GHz radio transmitter built into the mount. Wireless video can be received using either the handheld controller (which includes its own flat patch video antenna) or the video base station. HD Video glasses plug directly into the handheld transmitter, allowing you to see what the helicopter is seeing and get perfectly aimed aerial photographs and video. The video base station is compatible with any modern PC running Windows and features three standard RCA output jacks. This allows you to use your own recording equipment with the cameras or even broadcast the video stream if needed.

Because all wireless communication is subject to interference, all of our cameras now feature a built-in DVR that records a pristine, interference-free copy of your aerial video to an SD card. After you finish flying, plug the SD card into your computer and edit the video using the software of your choice. Each camera also features a custom designed mount with a remote tilt feature. Designed to give you the best quality video possible, each camera mount features balanced, oil-filled shock absorbers. The shock absorbers keep the recorded video free from vibration, guaranteeing that you get the best possible results.

The Draganflyer X4 UAV helicopter features an innovative case system that makes transporting the helicopter easier than ever. The entire Draganflyer X4 helicopter presses neatly into its pre-cut slot in the case. Each part and accessory fits into molded high-density foam inserts for safekeeping during transport. The transport case features a dual layer design with flight accessories in the top layer and the base station in the bottom layer. A patented, load-bearing system clips on to the transport case allowing it to be worn like a backpack. Made from flexible Cordura™ nylon, the load-bearing system is securely attached using Fastex™ hardware and adjustable straps.

The entire transport case fits neatly into an ATA (Airline Transport Association) certified hard case, rated to last over 100 flights as airline baggage. The padlockable, all-metal, carpet-lined ATA case allows you to safely transport the helicopter anywhere in the world without worrying about damage caused by the rigors of airline travel.

Designed for small enterprises and projects on a budget, the Draganflyer X4 is one of the most affordable UAV RC helicopters ever. Use the power of a full featured UAV RC helicopter for your project – the Draganflyer X4 makes professional quality aerial photographs and video easier to obtain than ever before.

For the past several years, Mark Sharpe of the Ontario Provincial Police force has been using aerial pictures and video to help with law enforcement.

The OPP found a solution with the Draganflyer helicopter, North America’s first commercially available UAV legalized for law enforcement applications. Fast deployment and an advanced autopilot make the Draganflyer UAV the perfect choice for police departments who need aerial pictures and video.

So why would a police force based out of a small city need aerial surveillance? For one thing, the Ontario police need to cover a huge area ranging all the way from the U.S border to Hudson Bay. It is hoped that using remotely operated vehicles can help reduce charter costs to remote areas. Aerial pictures and video are also very useful in court, helping judges and juries to visualize crime scenes effectively.

Featured on www.canada.com, the Winnipeg Free Press, and the Saskatoon Star Pheonix, it’s clear that there’s definitely a market for UAVs in law enforcement applications.

RC Helicopters Fishing

I wouldn’t recommend trying this – you could easily lose your RC helicopter in the drink. Nevertheless, this is an amazing video. It looks like the pilot’s added floats to his heli, just in case he catches a really big fish!

Ultimate 3D Flying – Insane Tricks With RC Helicopters

Here’s a really cool one, that shows what’s possible with a 3D RC helicopter and really great flying skills.

RC Helicopter Crashes Volume 2 – Who Doesn’t Love A Little Destruction?

Every once in a while, it’s cool to see some spectacular crashes. This type of thing happens to everyone – here’s a compilation of some of the worst crashes ever seen! When RC helicopters crash, destruction is usually very quick.

RC Helicopter Direct Drive Turbines

RC Helicopter jet engines spin their axels at far to great a speed to directly hook up to the rotors, so the most obvious way to slow them down is a gear box. In the direct drive design, the turbine shaft is directly connected to a gear box, which slows down it’s rotation speed and powers the main rotors. This is the most obvious and simple design, but it has a few problems that have caused another, more sophisticated one to gain popularity. For example:

1. All the thrust produced by the jet engine is wasted. Because the only work done by the engine comes from it’s main turbine shaft, all the thrust from the engine is left unused. The thrust from the engine is usually channelled outside the RC helicopter.
2. The wasted thrust can lead to unwanted motion. RC jet engines produce a lot of thrust, and forcing it outside the RC helicopter creates unwanted forces that have to be cancelled out.
3. Direct drive jet RC helicopters are very inefficient. Only 20% of the total power produced by the rotor blades actually goes into turning the rotor blades.

With all the problems present in direct drive turbines, most jet RC helicopter enthusiasts are turning to another design:  two stage turbines.

RC Helicopter Two Stage Turbines

Two stage turbines use the thrust produced by the engine, instead of simply venting it as exhaust. Recall that a jet engine has a main turbine shaft, which is used to compress air and keep the engine running. A two stage turbine leaves the first shaft free to spin, and then adds an additional turbine to the end of the engine, where the exhaust is emitted and thrust is produced. The second turbine spins another shaft, which then drives the gearbox that powers the main rotors. What’s the benefit of using two turbines instead of just one? There are actually quite a few:

1. A two stage jet engine is about 80% more efficient than the direct drive design.
2. Less thrust is wasted, so there are fewer unwanted forces caused by venting it.
3. The engine has to carry less load. Overall, it’s better if the jet engine doesn’t have to directly power anything. Harnessing the thrust produced by the engine reduces vibrations and wear.

The only problems with the two stage design are that two stage turbines tend to be heavier than their direct drive counterparts, and they’re also a little more expensive.

Vertical Magazine is the helicopter industries “insider” publication, featuring commentary by some of the industries leading voices. Although they usually feature full scale, piloted helicopter applications, our 1 kg UAV’s features were unique enough to write an article about.

The OPP became the first police service to use RC helicopters for forensic purposes inside city limits. You can learn more about Draganflyer X6 RC helicopters at www.draganfly.com

One of the PD-100′s coolest features is a transmitter with an integrated LCD display. The display shows images gathered from the camera and flight data. The transmitter also logs flight data and can interface with a computer. We expect to hear more about the PD-100′s features by it’s release date in 2010.

The PD-100 isn’t being manufactured yet, but Prox Dynamics expects to start shipping to customers by 2011. No price has been released yet. You can watch the video below to get an idea of how it flies.

• Comes in three different colors, green/purple, yellow/orange, and blue/orange
• Uses A 50mAh 3.7V Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery
• Battery Charge Time: 15-20 minutes
• Flight time: 5-9 minutes
• The battery charger is built into the transmitter.
• Compatible with standard mini helicopter parts

All the standard mini helicopter modifications can be done with the Havoc Stinger. Add weights to the nose or tail to make it go forwards or backwards more quickly. The Havoc Stinger is not a knock-off, and was made by the same company that makes the successful PicooZ RC helicopter.

Included with the Blade MCX

The Blade MCX includes everything you need to fly, right out of the box. Here’s what’s included:

• The Blade MCX RTF Micro RC Helicopter
• A 2.4 Ghz, DSM-2, Spread Spectrum Transmitter (Including 4 AA Batteries)
• A Portable Lipo Battery Charger (Including 4 AA Batteries)
• 1 cell, 3.7 volt, 110 mAh lipo battery (removable)
• A Small Screwdriver
• Some Extra Canopy Securing Rings

The Blade MCX is great for beginner pilots, because you don’t have to purchase any additional parts. The
Blade MCX is also well suited to pilots with previous RC helicopter experience, for flying indoors and during the winter months.

Main Helicopter Features

One of the coolest features of the Blade MCX is it’s proportional, four channel radio. Four channel control means that pilots can fly the helicopter with four dimensions of freedom. The Blade MCX can fly up/down, rotate left/right, pitch forwards/backwards, and bank left/right. Having a four channel radio system lets you precisely control the Blade MCX’s movement through all three dimensions. With a rotor diameter of 7.5 inches, and a length of 7.9 inches, it can easily fit into the palm of your hand. It is very uncommon to find RC helicopters of this size and price range with four channel control.

The Blade MCX features a coaxial rotor design. This coaxial design gives the helicopter great flight stability, and removes the need for a separate tail rotor to control yaw (rotation about the main rotor
axis). The main rotors spin in opposite directions, cancelling out any torque caused by their rotation. Coaxial RC helicopters are great for flying indoors, because they are very stable and so can be controlled with great precision.

The Blade MCX uses a tiny 1 cell lithium polymer battery for power. Unlike most micro RC helicopters, the battery is removable and interchangeable. Each cell provides 3.7 volts of power with a capacity
of 110 mAh (Milli ampere hours). You charge the battery using the included base station, which runs off four “AA” alkaline batteries. A typical charge takes about 30 minutes and provides an average flight time of 6 to 8 minutes. Because the battery is interchangeable, we recommend that you purchase an extra so that you can use one while the other is charging.

The Blade MCX uses a genuine Spektrum DS-2 type radio system. The helicopter radio is fully compatible with many other DS-2 transmitters, including the:

• Spektrum DX5e
• Spektrum DX6i
• Spektrum DX7
• JR X9303
• JR 12X

Modular radios which have Spectrum modules will also work with the Blade MCX. Please note that the Spektrum DX6 is not compatible.

Spread Spectrum radios greatly reduce the chance of any radio interference from other aircraft of sources. It also uses a short transmitter antenna, allowing the transmitter to fit in a small and sleek container.

The Blade MCX Transmitters are all mode 2, meaning that throttle and rudder are controlled with the left stick and pitch and roll with the right. The transmitter throttle stick is not spring loaded, so it remains at the position that it was last set to. Most RC helicopter pilots prefer this, as it allows you to remove pressure on the throttle stick while hovering. The radio has a dual rate feature, which allows you to choose how fast the helicopter responds to your commands. Beginners should start with mode 1, which can be set by pressing down on the right control stick and holding until the red light starts blinking. Setting the transmitter to mode 2 is done the same way.

Weighing only 1 ounce, the blade MCX is virtually crash proof. A sudden drop from a few feet above the ground won’t damage it, and in most cases minor collisions with walls are not a problem. Although it is not indestructible, the Blade MCX’s durability makes it an ideal present for anyone over 12 years of age.

If you want to get into the exciting world of RC helicopters, the Blade MXC makes a great starting place. It will show you all the basics of RC helicopter flight, and can be used as a starting place to more advanced models. If you’re already an experienced RC helicopter pilot, you’ll like the Blade MCX’s control and stability. Watch our site for tutorials on the Blade MCX, including a how to for installing replacement parts.

Setting up A Workbench for Building RC Helicopters

The very first, and most important thing you can do when you start building RC helicopters is to set up a proper work area. Having a good place to build your RC helicopters makes the process more enjoyable, and can improve the final result. Here’s a checklist that you can go through when setting up a new work area.

1. Get A Good Work Bench – A good work bench has a large, flat top which is free of cracks and holes where small parts and dust can collect. Pre made work benches are available at most hardware stores, but you can make one relatively inexpensivly by setting a large piece of particle board on a pair of saw-horses. The saw horses can be made from 2X4 beams of wood. You don’t have to screw the top onto the saw horses, it’s weight should hold it on sufficiently. This way you can dismantle the table for cleaning or storage when you’re not using it.
2. Add Proper Lighting – Add a good, bright light to your workbench. Working in the dark is hard on one’s eyes, and a good light will help you see small screws and parts.
3. Get Some Shelves for Storage – Keep your tools organized by putting them in plastic or wood shelves, available from almost any
   hardware store.
4. Add a Sturdy Chair – You’ll probably be sitting at your workbench for seceral hours at a time. Use a comfortable chair, which sits at about table height.

Building RC helicopters requires some special tools, and the instructions should list the ones that you need. Here’s a short list of the most common tools that should be kept handy when building RC helicopters.

• A set of Metric Allen Wrenches and Drivers – Most of the screws and bolts found on RC helicopters are metric, so having a good set of screwdrivers is a must.
• Ball Link Pliers – Ball links are used to join the servos to the control surfaces in RC helicotpers. Their installation and removal requires a set of ball link pliers, which you can get from any local hobby store. This is one of the most inexpensive, and useful tools you can get for building RC helicopters, a typical pair costs only around $10.
• Thread Lock Compound – It’s a good idea to secure bolts with a small touch of thread lock compound while building. This prevents any of them from vibrating loose when you’re flying your RC helicopters. Note that not all bolts require thread lock, especially those that go through plastic and other composite materials.
• Hobby Knives – You’ll need a good hobby knife to cut things with when building RC helicopters.

Now that you’ve got a good place to work and the tools you need, here are some tips to help you through the building process:

• Read the Manual – This one seems like a no-brainer, but the vast majority of problems that first time builder encounter are caused by not reading the manual carefully. Read the section you’re working on, then read it again. Only proceed with building a part when you’re sure you understand the instructions.
• Start the Canopy First – Some builders prefer to work on the RC helicopters canopy before anything else, because it’s one of the
  most labor instensive parts and can take a long time to build. Canopies usually require cutting, sanding, painting, applying decals, and finishing. When you’re applying decals, first spray the canopy with window cleaner. This will let you slide the decal into place, and the decal will only start to stick when pressed down. Once it’s in place, lightly squeeze the cleaner out from under the decal and wipe it away.
• Building the Main Frame – Follow the instructions carefully, and build the main frame. Movable parts should be lightly lubricated
  and moving freely.
• Rotor Head – Sometimes, rotor heads come pre assembled. Remove a bolt to see if the manufacturer used thread lock compound when they built the rotor head. If they didn’t, thread lock should be applied to every screw and bolt in the rotor head. Adjust the mesh (the interface between two gears) between the motor and main rotors to minimize friction.
• Stop the Muffler from Vibrating Off – Losing a muffler in flight is somthing you definately want to avoid. Besides checking that it’s tightly bolted to the engine before each flight, you can use small lock washers on the long bolts that attach the engine to the muffler. High temperature thread lock compound can also be used.
• Adjust the Belt Drive – Tail rotors are commonly powered by belt drives on RC helicopters. Adjust the tension in the belt drive so
  that it moves as freely as possible.
• Lubricate Ball Links – Ball links need to rotate freely, and can be lubricated with petroleum jelly.

Follow these tips and your RC helicopters instructions carefully, and you’ll end up with a result you can be proud of. Have fun building and flying your RC helicopters!

Now that you’ve got a good place to work and the tools you need, here are some tips to help you through the building process: