The design and flight testing of a long endurance RPV

This paper covers the design process for a long endurance RPV. The 56-pound RPV must operate in the 25-60 knot speed range at low altitudes. An airfoil designed for low-Reynolds-number applications was used with a wing of aspect ratio 22 to reach an estimated L/D(max) of 25. Wing tip feathers were designed to reduce the induced drag. A comparison between the computed aerodynamic predictions and wind-tunnel results is given. The estimated endurance is on the order of 50 hours/gallon of fuel. A three-surface configuration was chosen, and the predicted handling quality and performance results obtained so far are given. The structural challenges in building a lightweight structure for the wing and control surfaces are outlined. The flight test program is currently underway.