I Built NASA's Truss-Braced Wing Concept (Drone Mothership)

For 60% off with HelloFresh PLUS free shipping, use code THINKFLIGHT60 at bit.ly/3XGiSVr!
If you are interested in Bambu Lab 3D printers you can use this affiliate link to purchase: shrsl.com/29j80... It costs nothing extra and helps sustain the channel.
If you enjoy this type of content and would like to see more, consider supporting through app.pica-pay.c...

[@scottmanley]

Fantastic work, especially on the truss sweep for COG, problem solving at its best.

[@bermchasin]

hey scott - have you ever heard of this space game called KSP? jk

[@TheVeganarchism]

2:01 I admire your restraint in choosing the phrase “never really found a home” rather than “never really took off” 😂

[@thinkflight]

Haha, yes that crossed my mind.

[@andrewkang6081]

@@thinkflight 😅🎉Yudjibing

[@stefanpynappels7959]

To be fair, it took off plenty...

[@mandowarrior123]

​@@thinkflight this project was a flight of fancy

[@billharshbarger7191]

the v-tail goes SO WELL with the strut brace. gorgeous plane! if it looks good it flys good!

[@agn855]

…that’s the motto I’m always thinking off at the time I see (an image of) the Me262

[@Triple_J.1]

If it looks good motto dose not apply in aviation. That was how all of the aircraft of the 1920s-30s were built and they are all unanimously deathtraps that are slow and sluggish and overall terrible. If its designed well, and built well, and tested well, and modified rationally, it will fly good.

[@nntflow7058]

Is it more beneficial compared to the standard T-tail?

[@nntflow7058]

It looks good, but realistically speaking. T-tail would be more realistic.

[@nntflow7058]

I would say, while it looks good, it's probably not gonna be suitable for these type of aircraft. T-Tail seems to be the perfect solution for such wing design.

[@miniman3112]

The end footage looks way too good, almost detached from reality and more like a render. The absurdly beautiful scenery, the super clean looking build and how the drone zips around the plane effortlessly like a camera controlled by a mouse in software. Very surreal :D

[@alargebeaver]

I thought so too!

[@KristovMars]

Yeah I got that feeling too, I expect it's helped by that amazing green of the fields below contrasting so well with the aircraft's paint scheme.

[@pa0lo0_]

@@KristovMars so much rain recently in cali it’s amazing

[@KristovMars]

@@pa0lo0_ Yeah my part of South Australia looks like this for about two weeks on a good year

[@KristovMars]

@@pa0lo0_ Yeah my part of South Australia looks like this for about two weeks on a good year

[@ludovicbon5903]

There is an interesting motorized sailplane with braced wings made in France in 1967, the Chapeaux-Durand CXD-18 . The struts are profiled and mobile to also serve as ailerons, flaps and airbrakes . She's displayed at the air museum of Angers-Marcé in France .

[@bradycope2332]

So cool

[@Br1cht]

I´ve often wondered why this isn´t standard, why not use the available area?

[@alainzen6279]

Double emploi..je supprime

[@tomdebom1346]

@@Br1cht The struts are at a relatively steep angle to the plane (both definitions of plane), so by putting control surfaces on them, I imagine the control surface will not perform very well and would just induce drag. Just a guess tho, im not a aerodynamics expert

[@28th_St_Air]

@4:29 the cinematographer is quietly freezing to death but carries on. Nice bonus footage. Gotta love how CA can look like a lush paradise at this time of year and especially with all the rain we’ve had.

[@KF99]

Your designs are absolutely awesome! They inspire me to continue this hobby and build more and more advanced projects.

[@thinkflight]

Mission accomplished then!

[@glike2]

@@thinkflight I remember when my colleague at Boeing was working on SugerVolt. Where are you in SoCal? I would love to meet up and discuss other stuff to model that might make a great video... Super impressed with your projects. What's your engineering background? I have Cal Poly SLO Aeronautical Engineering BS 1995, and some MS Mechanical engineering courses. An RT Jone style Oblique flying wing with adjustable engine and vertical stabilizers would be a great project.

[@toastrecon]

Dude. the turnaround on the design and build is nuts. Nice work.

[@stratos2]

Love your work. Absolutely insane. I'd love to see some more deep dives too, maybe a second channel where you explain the intricacies of how you designed your planes?

[@thinkflight]

Maybe one day!

[@eelcohoogendoorn8044]

Was going to say the same thing; super impressed with the speed and quality at which you design and build things, and id love to see more of that.

[@bobirving6052]

Check some of the previous videos. How to build the Graugans is really good.

[@robbudden]

You've rapidly become one of my favourite youtubers and I have ZERO interest in actually flying or making a drone myself. You're eloquent, educational and engaging. Great work!

[@bbrockert]

Impressive work. Replacing the drop bay doors with clear plastic would help with the auto exposure problem and make for interesting video.

[@thinkflight]

Clever idea.

[@AntiVaganza]

That;s a great idea!

[@OfficiallySnek]

If you told me that the footage of the plane flying was from a video game, I would have believed you

[@heygek2769]

Death Stranding vibes.

[@danielrunyon4830]

I'm so glad to have experienced the progression of games, and witness an era where this is a serious comment.

[@bob2859]

That looks fantastic in the air! Considering you're hurting from low Re, this seems like a good contender for a heavy endurance craft that flies at higher speed. If that bay was filled chock full of batteries, how long would it go? Looking forward to seeing more about that "incredible software" from Austin. CADing printable planes is a PITA!

[@kennethmcneil9540]

Weird moment here, I work at NASA Langley and have seen these types of models before but never knew what it was all about. I come across a KZbin video and it is easily explaining what I see at work. So props on you man.

[@minecrafter0505]

I love that truss-based plane! Looks like it handles beautifully, too. For 3D-printing some parts for your planes, you should take a look at the technique Tom Stanton is using for his 3D printed RC planes, he found a way to balance weight and stability really well.

[@nagasako7]

You just saved NASA and Boeing Millions. Truss-Braced works. GO TO FULL 747 or 787 Truss production!

[@WindCatcherRC]

Regardless of efficiency gained or not, it's a beautiful airplane. Great job on this project! Thanks for sharing.

[@TheDorazio]

Thinking you might want to try spring-loaded wing extensions on the micro drone with a pull-pin trigger when it drops out of the bay. The flight dynamics with the kind of profile and size you have now to fit in the bay are probably always going to suck.

[@adamrosenberg4367]

Oooh! Yeah do a swing-wing micro B-1 for the drop drone!

[@Patriottoo2]

Awesome achievements! Flight is so fascinating. I was marveling, just yesterday, while watching a foursome of Canada geese amble around our neighborhood. I was thinking how marvelous are their wings, which fold up to exactly the right dimensions, perfectly conforming to their bodies, and providing insulation. Then, if spooked, the wings extend instantly, and explosively launch the large-bodied birds into the air... a miracle of nature's design.

[@HolbrookAerospace]

These trailing cam shots on this aircraft make me happy. I watch this video whenever it comes up on my feed. The aircraft is beautiful and I always enjoy watching it fly again.

[@tolson57]

Beautiful Aircraft. Never seen the Moreno Valley look so green.

[@MrApru1]

Put strips of 30 grit sand paper on the upper leading edge of those small drop ships. The small bumps act as turbulators and energize the boundary layer keeping flow attached and vastly improving flying characteristics.

[@techstuff6829]

I'm curious why you chose to use a push/pull configuration for the props rather than single larger props. Is it to allow the use of smaller props, or is there some other benefit?

[@aleecx_]

Impressive filming at the end. Keep it up!

[@Hobz79]

Awesome plane! Really took it to the next level by also giving a small drone to drop, which I look forward to seeing more of. Not a new concept, but I wonder how well the truss being swept back so far could double as a replacement for the v-tail by putting control surfaces on it. Would be less stable being so close to the wing, but that's what computers are for and might be worth the loss in drag :)

[@thinkflight]

I think that is an awesome idea!

[@burbman60]

Put your glass fabric on at 45deg (draped on the bias) it'll allow both warp and weft fibers to contribute to stiffness, and you'll be able to get the fabric to lay down over the airfoil a lot easier. piece of unidirectional tape in a shallow groove under cloth for spar cap on top and bottom. Love this aircraft!!!

[@burbman60]

your video makes me want to give up all my hobbies and go back to aviation and composites.

[@fryingsquirrelXNA]

I'm quite new to your channel, however I've been watching RCtestflight, Tom Stanton, Peter Sripol, and flight test for years. RC test flight led me here. I've gotta say that that plane is a thing of beauty, I look forward to seeing your developments.

[@cornrichard]

I could not click away from the B roll footage at the end. I could put that on a loop and give it 45 minutes of my time. Thanks.

[@thinkflight]

My pleasure!

[@simonl7784]

Thanks TF for another great vid. I really liked the last little drop plane and looking forward to seeing more "minis"

[@upaiaq]

I always feel smarter after watching your videos.

[@BPlus-oz7cm]

I go bike riding where your closing footage was shot. I love how far away from it all I feel back there. Beautiful mothership you made there!

[@roboman2444]

A bright LED turning on inside the bay a few seconds before opening the doors could help with the camera's white balance being blown-out by the sudden change in brightness.

[@seancollins5769]

Love your work! It would be awesome to see more of the build process, even if it's just pictures and some narration. The scenery, music, and the elegant plane made this video so beautiful!!!

[@fazrulrusdi3709]

Totally agreed... Pls consider the suggestion

[@Ambilition]

It truly is so very, very cool. Compared to other models people have build this on looks simply special.

[@nonsequitor]

Amazing video as always. Thank you. One thing tho: what's the difference between strut and truss braced? You kinda skimmed over that part - it looked like truss means strut plus extra support (which is what a truss is) but your design has no trusses 🤷‍♂️🙏

[@bradycope2332]

Yes! I was worried I missed something. Would love to understand this concept.

[@willowehrich6207]

This is AMAZING! I have been really interested in this for awhile and have been wanting to build some versions for myself. It was really great seeing what you did with this one!

[@robertheinrich2994]

fun fact: you connected the truss brace to the engine nacelle to reduce drag at the joint. if somebody at boeing comes up with that idea now and tries to get a patent for it: thanks, due to this video, it's prior art. but I guess, there were already planes with such a configuration so that doesn't really matter.

[@x.i.p8410]

Congrats bro 🎉🎉🎉

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

Your bottom truss continuous spar will be stronger in a continuous and smooth U-shape so you can take advantage of the arch and keystone strength and load distribution. (Think bridge or old school archway) It looks like your current design uses multiple pieces with a 30 or so degree angle connecting a smaller fuselage piece with the longer wing connection pieces, and while it looks well made, the load will be concentrated on the angles.

[@56Seeker]

So what's the difference between a strut and a truss? Is it a compression/tension thing, or???

[@mandowarrior123]

No it is ambiguous, strut harkens back to timber. I'd argue it is neither as it is a lifting plane, so a support wing or something might make more sense.

[@danielsechrist4410]

Very nice looking plane! I like how you joined the trusses at the engines... really clean

[@an_R_key]

Awesome build. I'd love to see more about you using HD-Zero and ELRS for this. Those are what I'm thinking of using.

[@slammerf16]

The use of the engine pods as structural members to reduce drag was a really elegant touch. Thank you!

[@BrianSFischer]

I love that you went with a lifting body. My dad worked on the full-size lifting bodies and restored the M2-F1 for the Smithsonian.

[@typxxilps]

looks clean and streight, just beautiful on ground and in the air, espescially the footage at the end I had not expected. But Southern California offers also a much better weather situation than in most others places were we had 20 cm of fresh snow last Saturday - after a few days with 15°C at the end of February.

[@revolutionarythinker]

What you should do ... Build same weight similer size airplane with regular configuration with 4 channel control Use FDR for both input and attitude recording (record both input and attitude simultaniously, may be tap signal from potentiometer of servos) Conduct data gathering on headon wind and zero throttle condition and min throttle condition Observe sink rate and glide slope,

[@noeatnosleep]

Thank you for the extra footage :)

[@TrogdorBurnin8or]

There are other side benefits to this sort of approach with model aviation. A significant issue for scaling up RC to larger sizes for most people, and sailplanes to higher aspects ratios in particular, is "How do I fit it in the car". Mostly they resolve this with short reinforced spars connected by insertable carbon fiber struts, heavy features which defeat some of the goals of the light sailplane approach. This design has built-in hardpoints for wing attachment and mass-efficiently minimizes wing flex.

[@SeeLasSee]

Thanks! It was a lovely video and I respect your curiosity and applied creativity.

[@thinkflight]

Gratitude!

[@youreinacoma3009]

@6:25 this feels verty from the depths-y. deploy the flying squirrels!

[@rjung_ch]

Love your projects, they are so cool, the fast pace you have and the great engineering involved, so nice! 👍💪✌

[@thinkflight]

Thank you very much!

[@rjung_ch]

@@thinkflight just my honest opinion. I thank you!

[@BuckeyeStormsProductions]

I just watched a Mark Rober video about Zipline drones doing deliveries. Their system in Africa parachutes stuff in, but looking at your setup, I wonder if a lifting body system could help better pinpoint the landing. Seriously, your system that you built here looks ready to be put into commercial use providing needed medical supplies in remote communities, or those cutoff from the outside world due to disaster.

[@R3dp055um]

Most impressive, as always. Your videos are consistently worth watching.

[@thinkflight]

Glad you think so!

[@mr.boomguy]

I understand your love for the V tail planes, I'm personally a sucker for the H tail from the Antonov 225. There's just something about it. And it's functional too

[@tomassimatovic]

Hey! With regards to the lightweight PLA, the humidity really kills that stuff, so its entirely possible that if all your settings are correct, but its been a few weeks that it will print differently. I learned this at our work lab the other day when struggling to print what I had just finished printing a week ago. I like to keep it in a zip lock when not in use.

[@scoutworks]

My Dad has built small balsa gliders since he was a kid and one thing he is adamant on is that you can scale down the airplane, but you can't scale down the air. It's interesing watching someone else come to the same conclusions many decades after he did, especially someone with an education in it!

[@AppleGameification]

the person helping you film whispering to the camera is super endearing :)

[@franzperez9145]

Great Presentation Questions 1. Did you get a longer range distance with the truss brace than you would without it? 2. The opposite propellers are better performance than a single propeller on each motor? Does it consume same current ? 3. What % of weight loss reduction did you get with the truss brace ? I would imagine that you conducted separate tests on the UAV. That is, one with the truss brace and one without it?

[@dennisdonoghue7854]

Thank you @Think Flight! I always enjoy your videos. The extremely grainy videos reminded me of early space footage, which is very nostalgic.

[@richardtheweaver4891]

Nice work. Thumbs up! Locating the engines at the truss/wing joint moves them further from the passengers, too. Makes transferring forces to the fuselage more difficult, though. But NASA's retractable take-off assist props could fit in the truss/wing joints, eh? Separates the surfaces and provides an electric boost during take-off

[@pranavkolluri]

Also for the mini gliders, try out expanding/foaming pla! Should print well on that Prusa, and seems to generate some incredibly light parts!

[@vegasflyboy67]

"I could barely wait to fly the plane" Love that feeling. Great design!

[@microbuilder]

Love the micro models, looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[@kuben_alt6464]

The drone footage was breathtaking. You reminded me why I was so crazy about airplanes as a kid.

[@chrisoakey9841]

I suggested this type about 2 years ago. But if you split the wing you can get rid of the tail. By putting the front wing sweeping backard from above to meet a forward swept wing from under near the rear. If they meet at a winglet you get lift advantages as well as strength and added flap low speed lift. As the lift is further back,and the wings sweep back, it should be possible to create supersonic planes that glide. I would love to see one like my idea trialed

[@thinkflight]

Somebody on discord was talking about the same thing, I least I think you guys are describing the same idea. I think its an amazing idea.

[@chrisoakey9841]

@@thinkflight it derived for me from the delta wing drawback for climb and maneuvering, and the slow speed lift advantages of flaps with gaps, or cascading multiple wings. the other cool things are if you put a rudder on the outer winglet you get good bang for your buck, and you can have both wings pretensioned. this will stiffen them further. i would love to see a full size electric aircraft with glide characteristics of 20-1. and i saw a guy who made a maglev planetary blade so you get venturi effect through the center, and make most use of the outer edge of a fan for thrust. between the 2, subsonic travel should be extremely cheap.

[@SnowingNapalm]

it's a great idea for going beyond materials properties constraints for length... like massive hauler planes that need extra long runways

[@kender242]

That was some beautiful footage, thank you for including the extra suff! Ever consider putting toroidal props on that thing? The aspect ratio makes me think it should sound quieter, like a glider.

[@jackglossop4859]

Your footage is incredible brother. That thing flies like a dream.

[@Suthriel]

For your Minidrone, maybe you can increase it´s size, if you use one, that can fold it´s wings to fit into the cargo bay (like some missiles do).

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Thanks! It flies very nicely!

[@Gibbo263]

For my dissertation I developed a closed wing aircraft, that was essentially a tailless biplane, showed decent aerodynamic potential, fairly low drag when compared to types with a similar front cross-section

[@jocax188723]

"I made the mistake of watching Scott Manley-" Instant sub.

[@thinkflight]

Haha. Thanks!

[@TestarossaF110]

Awesome video, amazing build! I want an RC truss-braced wing now too and too see these as real aircraft!

[@RubenKelevra]

You should add a camera on a rope with wings to the plane, so you can do great following shots without a drone :)

[@thinkflight]

Huh. This is an amazing suggestion. If I remember to try it, don't be surprised if you see it.

[@RubenKelevra]

@@thinkflight glad I could help 😊 If you add some ability to trim it via a remote, you can even shift it smoothly up/down/right/left.

[@mistr_z7654]

I've used rubber band and servo controlled launchers for a few projects. Might be good to pop out the drone and also pop out folded wings with a "launch".

[@rickblackwell6435]

Despite having watched Scott Manley’s video, I learned a lot of new things from you. Thank-you.

[@leslarson2642]

Loved the first flight with the sound of thunder in the background. The lack of more efficiency relative to a more conventional aspect ratio is interesting. Good luck!

[@captain61games49]

I'm quite glad you added that footage at the end

[@ShahriarFarkhan]

Beautiful work!! This was so much fun to watch

[@Ben_Fett]

2:40 "This won't be hitting Mach0.8 on purpose" is such a maker thing to say, I love it.

[@SianaGearz]

I'm liking printing in HIPS recently, its fairly lightweight. Polypropylene is considered by some to be printable as well, and it's lower density yet. But HIPS prints really well.

[@justincase5272]

Reynold's numbers are why small fliers like bees make do with stubby wings. 😀

[@uabforfindingthisbutalr6464]

Thats all it took? Just stretching the wings out? Imagine how may thousands of people thought about that and just wrote it off as just thoughts.. this lets me know that random thoughts could lead to amazing creations…. Ima have to start writing every thought down now

[@nlagas]

Omg. Why do I discover your channel only now? Brilliant.

[@adamrosenberg4367]

I'm still fuzzy on the difference between truss braced and strut braced? Could you go into that a bit further?

[@mikenorman4001]

Very cool project! I wonder if it really is a Reynolds number issue, as the chords are within a factor of two of each other in length. In other words, the "honey" factor is probably roughly equally as high on both wings. On the narrower wing, a couple other issues suggest themselves. First, a proportionally larger area of the narrow wing is experiencing high-velocity flow just behind the leading edge, as the span is wider and the truss brace represents even more added leading edge surface. (Loosely, we could also think of this as just dragging a longer knife through the honey.) Second, there could be interference drag where the truss brace meets the wing, and added interference drag at the attachment point of the truss brace to the fuselage. You might be able to remedy the wing-brace joint by curving the end of the brace to meet the wing at closer to a right angle, and fairing it in a bit more aggressively. (This fairing is a bit of a dark art, TBH.) You would want to beef up the brace end and wing where they meet, adding a bit of structural weight. Taken together, I could imagine a fleet of these, or a modular test rig on which you could swap out various truss geometries.

[@VictoryAviation]

This is super cool. I’m stoked for the full scale version as well!!

[@mattrehm8612]

The plane looks beautiful. Lovely design.

[@josgraha]

dang, I always learn so much from every one of your videos, thank you so much!

[@TimoBirnschein]

"So I decided to make an airplane [...] here is the airplane" :D You're a master in your field! Very much enjoying your videos!

[@danbo98042]

I really enjoy seeing your projects! Regarding your videos - please level out the volume from one clip to the next. It really takes the fun out of watching a video when I have to dive for the mute button. Thanks! Keep up with the cool experiments!

[@thinkflight]

when I'm editing it sounds even. what parts in particular were annoying volume-wise?

[@SnowingNapalm]

it's like a lifting body just takes the airspeed and adds weight carry capacity or low speed floating unloaded

[@kcalbxof]

I just subbed yesterday, and BAM! New video. Your plane is something i wanted to build a long time ago, maybe i will come back to this later. Ty!

[@mcmann7149]

All flight projects that I've attempted have the same starting point around me finding an interesting Scott Manley video to watch.

[@LevelDesignOperator]

The strut could block the air-flow to the tail-fins if you pitch-up. The wings and body could block the air flow. That's why your V-fins probably work better with the fins sticking out away from the body because they still catch air-flow sliding past the sides of the body. The wings and strut wings are in front of the V-fins if you pitch-up though, even if the body isn't. Maybe you can add A-fins at the bottom and have un-blocked air-flow when you pitch-up? Or you could do the opposite and have a wider body that has strong strutting at the edges of a dolphin tail to have inward-facing fins from the sides of the tail? Normally you would almost completely block the air-flow to the upper fins that way and you would lose fin-flow control BUT if you also have the same setup at the bottom (upside down compared to the top ones,) then those fins would have air-flow and you would only lose half the control. Kind of reminds me of the box-fins of those new Russian precision bombs they use in Ukraine. Inward fins strong-strutted at the sides of the tail on both the upper-, and lower sides, would also make it possible to have a flying wing and Delta Wing fin control without having to use Canards to keep the control fins out of "Wind Shade." You could, for example have the "Dassault Rafale," the "Eurofighter Typhoon 2000" have their canards put on the bottom and top of the tail to replace the functionality of the Canards and have a 'Fall Stable' air craft that can turn like a fighter. Inward-canted fins would have the 'bounce' effect angles for "stealth." Outward canted fins like your model, not so much, but you need the control right? Maybe bottom fins could be used for the B2, the Delta Wing F16, that ancient Swedish (Saab 35 Draken) jet etc?

[@danm6499]

Good design. You might think about loading both strut and truss designs to max weight, and record performance and battery endurance tests. You should see a significant difference.

[@RegebroRepairs]

That mothership looks really cool, and seems to fly really well!

[@MrFox5113]

What's the difference between a strut and a truss, and the advantage of the truss over the strut?

[@dentalnovember]

Im glad I stumbled upon your channel. Amazing engineering and American ingenuity!

[@kipgiles8854]

Amazing plane! I love v-tails and your very unique design combination! Can you include a video showing more of the build and all the materials you used to build this plane? Wing cord? Servos? Controllers you use? Those of us who are only slightly familiar with all the rc parts and pieces needed to build an amazing fpv like this need a little more hand holding to build our own version