Simple Angle of Attack (AOA) Probe for RC FPV Aircraft

This is a simple Angle of Attack (AOA) Probe I made for my radio controlled aircraft. It was tested on a Zagi flying wing, but will eventually be used on my FPV aircraft. It is made from CF88 foam, hot glue and bamboo skewers. It is designed to show the relative airflow (RAF) that the aircraft is experinecing during flight. The average AOA for most wings is up to a maximum of approximately 16 degrees before the wing stalls. This video shows two entries to transient stalls from nose high attitudes and recovery, in slow motion. The indicator wheel is graduated in approximately 10 degree increments, and shows a green band up to approximately 25-30 degrees. The alignment with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft is not exact, so the AOA calibration is not precise, but the does the job well enough for my use. The amazing thing is how even during turbulent conditions the AOA stays fairly constant. The small tooth pick out the front is a mass balance for the vanes with some hot glue to balance the aerodynamic surfaces.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• RC
• Radio Controlled
• FPV
• Aircraft
• AOA
• Angle of Attack
• Probe
• Flying
• Model
• Zagi
• Plane
• Flying Wing