The Flying Cell Tower: A Brief Airframe Overview

Here is an overview of an airframe destined for flying cell tower use.
My buddy Andrew at www.canuckengineering.com cut the foam bits for this project as they were too big for my table. He might be the guy for any projects you have in mind!
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[@Wolfie6020]

I used to fly Police Helicopters and we had a portable unit that would act as a cell tower. This was extremely handy during search and rescue operations where no phone service was available to the missing people. When we flew over and activated the system their phones would have service and we could communicate with them. This is all pre 2010. The technology has been available for a long time.

[@markhonea2461]

Why isn't it used more often ? Likely half of the lost or injured people here in the northwest could have basically saved SAR huge time and effort if somebody had a backpack version of that and or a helicopter cell transponder. I swear, in all of the missing person investigation (missing 411) they complain often about no cell service to aid them. Seems pretty straightforward, you would think every SAR team would be trained and equipped with a device such as that. I don't get it.🤔

[@JoeGator23]

How far away could you connect to a call? Very cool way to save lives.

[@honkhonk8009]

@@markhonea2461 hopefully they wont need to. Starlink is basically gonna be iridum sat but portable in the future. The FAA just approved it. Also TMobile was talking abt connecting to starlink thru regular carrier frequencies and stuff so maybe we might see that more

[@DanaTheLateBloomingFruitLoop]

Plot twist: He's not censoring his friend's name, he's just calling him names.

[@battletv777]

lOl **** is the **** of it

[@ICGedye]

😂

[@shirolee]

LOL

[@JaydenLawson]

Steve or Stan?

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@@JaydenLawson his name is Richard, but he keeps calling him the shortened version and youtube wants to demonitize

[@thesoupin8or673]

A bunch of people were just telling rctestflight that he should do something like this to support his long-range boat missions. You should collab again!

[@NicholasRehm]

>Airplane boots up >“Can you hear me now?”

[@My-Pal-Hal]

SORRY,.. WHAT ??? I was to busy FLYING my Antenna to pay attention to my phone 😂✌️

[@MyDustyPickles]

That legitimately looks like it could be a government drone. Very well done!!!

[@oneoffour63]

What an excellent build, I love this flying wing, I have been fascinated by them for years!

[@bozi7023]

Always inspired by your builds! Looks awesome!

[@Joyplanes]

I love the way you make those airframes

[@ilovemybirbheisgreat7785]

Yea I love flying wing planes

[@theterminaldave]

You should make one with solar cells and see how long you can keep it in the air for

[@hadleymanmusic]

Inflatable light gas wing

[@Airtruksrus]

Great location for flying this round of experiments from, been there a few times.

[@leonardodiangelo1197]

Good work , man. Bravissimo ! 👍👏

[@jayporter8454]

Your content feels like chefs kiss

[@the20thDoctor]

Oh what fresh and interesting rabbit hole have I falling into now? That thing is cool as beans! I have a thousand questions; from blimps to batteries! For a first video to see, I saw a good one.

[@markfabian6670]

This is something our UAS project will be able to offer on an as needed basis.

[@jacobdavidcunningham1440]

I feel like I'm getting cussed out lol "have fun beep"

[@gritngrind4780]

Honestly, it made me fill more at home. Is that sad?

[@nearavsmelloa8702]

Great! Thank you for your sharing.

[@jal.b.ajal.b.a9997]

I want this so much in my collection ! 😲

[@satan4768]

Nicely designed airframe

[@laseonestar]

I love my E-flite opterra 2 meter wing But this is next level Amazing looking work mate Cheers from Denmark

[@leekrieger8147]

This is awesome!!! My buddy has talked about doing a flying HAM radio repeater.

[@tonytor5346]

We ( AMSAT) did this in 1972. Took what was to be the first amateur radio satellite OSCAR-X on a plane. From the D.C. area we were able to reach Chicago in 144 & 220MHz band.

[@Inkling777]

Altitude can make a big difference. Years ago I flew with a light-plane pilot out of Destin near the center of the Florida panhandle. With but a ten-watt transmitter, we were having no trouble talking to other hams from Georgia to Mississippi.

[@My-Pal-Hal]

Ham Radio Repeater 🤔 Oh man. That's Precious. A decent Linear would probably drop that thing with one Key of the Mic 😂

[@My-Pal-Hal]

@@tonytor5346 I've spoken with people in Australia from the state of Washington. Invertions are Cool. And this ain't getting you over the Horizon. Cool looking R/C though 😊

[@doraluzurdaneta9520]

Excellent video.

[@hhffyyffhjiijhddfg2375]

How do you mold or form the foam? I saw in one of your vids you said that it’s Hotwire…could you make a vid on that?

[@RemmikRotus]

Now you just need to be able to recharge in the air every 15 minutes from a battery blimp!

[@waaggzz2871]

i think "beep" who is getting it will have a battery better than that of your off the shelf plane... there probably using a "beep" type battery

[@My-Pal-Hal]

Now you just have to MULTITASK. Fly your plane,.. or see what's on KZbin your plane is receiving 😏 ... WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE 😂... George George, George of the Airwaves....

[@roblamb8327]

Hmmm. Could be circumvented by incorporating PV film (being developed in the UK) in the surface coating? I know that here in the UK we still have remote regions where mobile phone masts aren't economically viable but having one of these circling overhead may be a future solution - especially in SAR situations.

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@@roblamb8327 I've seen people make corona motors using the sky, wonder if you could use that and solar panels... Then you would have multiple sources of power, when you hit clouds you would lose sun but get alot more static

[@dfunited1]

This is a lot nicer than the comms relay stations we added to the Shadow.

[@MaxPowersHedgehog]

I would like to see more flying of these masterpieces

[@robtomben]

What airfoil is that on the wing root there? What percent thickness is that? I have a hard time getting my root airfoil below 15% thickness due to rigidity and room for electronics.

[@davidwilkie9551]

Interesting work

[@johnsmithfakename8422]

I really like that airframe.

[@Lost_Hwasal]

The global hawk (RQ4) has a configuration called BACN where it essentially acts as a cell tower allowing combat units outside of LOS of normal comm links to be able to have a comm link. This is part of the synopsis of the Lone Survivor movie, which is based on a true story. That's a cool drone you made.

[@alserrette]

How long does it stay in the air and when is this necessary to have or use? Besides out at see and living in a valley? Can you remote land it back at the same spot like on a ship at sea?

[@BarrettCharlebois]

Fun fact with the microphone you are using, it doesn’t pick up sound from the top/tip like a shotgun mic, it takes it in from the sides

[@TheDavidCudd]

What kind of flight times are you looking at for the full up system and payload?

[@RCPlaneAddict]

Well that was awesome, and also looks very expensive. Just the airframe alone with expanded foam, and Kevlar would break my bank, but hey at least they cant shoot it down. Thanks for sharing.

[@Vousie]

I mean, yes, Kevlar is probably too expensive for most hobbyists. But fiberglass isn't, and can be used in the same method. A bit less durable of course, but most hobbyists aren't gonna have people shooting at their planes and fiberglass is quite strong enough for general crashes.

[@RCPlaneAddict]

@@Vousie True, very true

[@llejk]

Uhm… i don‘t think it is meant be bullet proof. The elasticity of the Kevlar just helps so the foam doesn’t get damaged by rough treatment or landing on stones.

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@@llejk yeah thats definitely not even enough kev to stop .22 lol

[@Snobiker13]

I watched some wind tunnel tests of a very similar design in the 1980s. Don't remember the guy's name, but he had left Lockheed to pursue his flying cell tower project. The plan was to power the plane from the ground with microwaves.

[@jfbrubaker1969]

great looking airframe, its nice to see something that's not 'utilitarian' looking. I've never seen wing locks like those before, can you provide a little more info on them?

[@FunBitesTV]

Pretty sweet although wouldnt the cooling inlet be better on the belly?

[@blower_234]

Wow wow wow.... Amazing...I like that..

[@titankorellc2937]

Oooh, this is similiar to another project I want to do once I'm able to build my workshop: A tethered "kite" turbine, generates its own power which it uses for providing internet/cell service to a park/wherever it's setup. I want to go on an extended road trip showing off various gadgets in a kind of one person travelling green tech carnival. Try and combat nimbyism to a degree by showing "hey these things are cool and provide useful services!"

[@ddegn]

What sort of "kite" turbine to you plan to build? Is it something like the *Makani?* I'm going to guess this sort of system would be too hard for an individual to build (but I hope I'm wrong). Or is it something like the kites shown in the video *"The Future of Wind Power? - Kite Power Systems"* on the channel *Real Engineering?* (I suppose this one isn't really a turbine.) While looking for the names mentioned above, I came across a video showing a lighter than air wind turbine. I thought this was an interesting (though likely impractical) concept. The video was on *CNN's* channel and titled *"Flying windmills: The future of energy?"* There is also a video on the *Futurism* channel titled *"It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A...Floating Wind Turbine!"* Of the three types mentioned above, I think the Makani system is the most promising (this is just a guess). Is the kite turbine you plan to make anything like the ones mentioned above? Whichever method you use, I wish you luck and I hope you document it on your KZbin channel. I just subscribed to your channel in hopes you'll post a video about your project.

[@titankorellc2937]

@@ddegn The one I was thinking was more like the one with a turbine inside a tube of balloons, mine would be just a weather balloon with a small payload of the min 3d printed turbine/electronics with an emergency chute if it gets detached from the balloon. It won't be the most efficient but it's something I could build with mostly off the shelf parts.

[@ddegn]

@@titankorellc2937 A weather balloon seems much more practical than a tube of balloons. I still think it would be interesting to see videos on the topic. Here's hoping you post a few.

[@My-Pal-Hal]

Unless you are simply looking for Cell Service. In the US,.. we have Satellites that cover this continent. Buy A Dish. It's easier to Fly 🤣

[@titankorellc2937]

@@My-Pal-Hal Dude, you missed the point so hard it'snot worth my time

[@kayzrx8]

Awesome content

[@kovyjacob]

This is super cool!Can you try it in a mountain area or some area without service? If this is reliable you could legit set yourself up in popular hunting areas with no service and stuff like that, and charge for cell service

[@TheOtherShoreOutdoors]

Nice old school broom you have in there.

[@delmondo2x]

In fact, I liked the shape of this plane and I am looking forward to making one, but I do not have the dimensions.

[@mav3kur294]

Do you use any specific software to design and simulate your models? Thanks.

[@-repkid-4724]

he's used xflr5 in past videos

[@iceman952fl]

Looks like a basic X8 flying wing he covered with his kevlar and goop method.

[@mikeybroe1]

@@iceman952fl nope

[@einteilvonallemallesistein2426]

Good job👍🏻🌼

[@grey5135]

Very nice

[@stingingmetal9648]

Someone who did something the RIGHT WAY.

[@fazrulrusdi3709]

Really pretty wing

[@rocketfast09]

Awesome plane! Where can I get one (w/o the specialized cell tower gear)?

[@ICGedye]

Check the vid link at the end. The plane build is detailed, albeit briefly.

[@johnmoss4140]

Just curious, have you done any builds of a Prandtl-d wing?

[@sightline4004]

Yeah this is what I want to know.

[@pascalfust1035]

Had a similar thought, as there seems to be no rudder. But, flying high as a mobile cell tower, yaw stability might not be of high priority either.

[@sightline4004]

@@pascalfust1035 Yeah that's valid. I think he has a split rudder video with one of these wings.

[@FlyingPolak]

Awesome!!

[@AerialWaviator]

Great looking and clean design. What kind of flight time is anticipated with a plane like this? Just think how much battery would need to be packed into this wing. Would assume the electronics payload would have it's own power source, so more battery. ;) My assumption is that 2-3 planes would be sequenced to provide continuous coverage over an area. Cool project. Thanks for posting.

[@Tom-ku8bu]

I was more thinking about if it is waterproof and can fly by rain

[@mitchellroberts7954]

Based on similar sized airframes in a "heavy" configuration, you'd expect 2-3 hours max. You'd expect a larger prop and (maybe) a smaller motor for something destined for long range with a lower weight payload. I'd guess the payload is quite heavy and power intensive to support ~800 simultaneous up/downlinks.

[@antonyalen2745]

@@mitchellroberts7954 Is it possible you know the kind of hardware they're using for the "cell tower"?

[@mitchellroberts7954]

@@antonyalen2745 Not personally. It's probably a DoD contractor working with a modem manufacturer to integrate this. Good luck getting specs, especially with something with such a low SWAP. The cost is surely more than any of us can afford.

[@antonyalen2745]

@@mitchellroberts7954 I am sure it's very pricey but thanks for the reply.

[@nekkowe]

Great project and video! One quick thing, at 0:21, you're talking into the wrong end of the Blue Yeti - instead of talking into the "tip" from above, try it from the front where the logo and mute button are. You'll find the audio quality getting a lot better. I've made the same mistake for a long time.

[@thinkflight]

Lol yup :)

[@Jamesen666]

please consider a camera with image stabilization. Love your videos!

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

I dream of such a test ground!

[@indepviewpt]

NICE!

[@dronepilot260rc]

Looks huge! What's the wingspan ?

[@gator1984atcomcast]

I like the idea of using 4G instead of 2.4 GHz for remote control. Actually, automomous GPS comtrol is better yet. Happy days ahead for RC.

[@boryswwa]

Guess this could also be used to do GSM surveillance and evesdropping if the GSM tower software is fitted with a proper software...

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

What sort of operational time does it have ?

[@pascalgermanfpv238]

I love the way how you build your planes with kevlar. I tired it some years ago my self but didnt succeed. Are you aware of the Prandl D Wing concept?

[@thinkflight]

Indeed, had Prandtl on my mind today!

[@pascalgermanfpv238]

@@thinkflight awesome! Im currently planning to build a prandtl wing but struggle how to get the wingshape. Thought about a light build with ducted fans for mid-longrange.

[@ICGedye]

An old acquaintance of mine started making kite boards using the same method, and cf, using vacuum bags. They were incredibly strong.

[@Tiagomottadmello]

Awesome 👍👍👍

[@ndoghouse6853]

Looks like a fat Zagi 400x! Cool!

[@condor4679123]

Nice frame

[@heggy_fpv]

link to wing locks pleeease! look amazing

[@deepfande]

Doesn't look water tight at all. No cell phone when it rains? Or is it only for deserts as shown in the video?

[@MelindaGreen]

How do you apply kevlar to EPP?

[@stinkyskate]

cell tower? maybe flying stingray

[@theterminaldave]

Was my first thought too. Double edged sword really. Like anything that has any value, it can be used for good or evil.

[@freezaphreeze4298]

Spot on. The surveillance program they all deny but all use.

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

I'm glad you were not talking about the animal lol... Because the drone(if it had a tail) would look like the stingray animal.. But yeah, the fake man in the middle towers are so faulty... They send your phone an over the air update and make it install malware, so you drive by one once and its possible you're screwed

[@theterminaldave]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 i haven't heard of the the malware aspect, just that they can intercept your communications and analyze everything that you're sending and receiving.

[@randolfaquino9998]

I was suggesting the same capability for the dji drones as some sort of capability to send out sos txt msg from isolated areas via high altitude but i no techie and could not expound :) nor know if it is possible

[@michaelamick8295]

Unfortunately it may have to leave area during weather events. In many parts of the world, when needed most it may not be available but can likely be restored quickly. Behind every silver lining there is a cloud.

[@TheMchip]

i recommend watching the c-astral uavs .... they are AWSOME there is a sAR model!

[@FarmsVilla]

Integrate solar cells into the wings and top of the fuselage and you should extend your flying time considerably. Good job. 👍🏻

[@giadalussu1922]

I wonder if the added complexity would actually be worthwhile tho

[@mitchellroberts7954]

This is very likely a proof of concept, purely aimed at assessing the decreased cost. The client is probably throwing some money at the idea to see if it pans out. When compared to a larger UAS, this really has no benefits aside from cost. The larger airframes can fly significantly longer with heavy fuels but they get very expensive, mostly due to the majority coming from the big DoD contractors.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@giadalussu1922 not much added complexity and there are plenty of people who have done it. Send their planes on loooong autonomous flights. They stay up for hours.

[@yashturkar1175]

Where do you fly? Whats the location in the video

[@LaBamba690]

Where exactly is that location where the plane is flying at the end of the video?

[@bad_alpha]

Wow! I wonder if *beep* could easily use this in *beep*. In *beep* probably, but I highly doubt that too, since *beep* might *beep* the *beep* as to whatever *beep* they might *beeeeeep*.

[@pangrac1]

Ever heard of Daineema cloth? Thats durable probaly even more.

[@thoongchinglee4905]

If this like a repeater of a cell tower?

[@wing_it]

Looks like a big Ar Wing Pro

[@alexanderjordan2506]

Reminds me of Google's internet drone project. I think the idea there was solar powered drones that had the ability to linger over an area for weeks. I'm surprised something this small could pack the required equipment and enough battery power to make the flight worthwhile.

[@AKAtheA]

all the "required equipment" for this should fit into the palms of your hands (excluding cooling and the antennas), technology has come quite a long way... You can DIY your own pico cell tower with a PC and about a $200-250 software radio (but it's illegal without a license), range will be limited by what antennas you can afford and the terrain.

[@antonyalen2745]

@@AKAtheA Hello, do you have an idea of what the "cell tower" hardware is?

[@AKAtheA]

@@antonyalen2745 depends on how much money they spent...either it's an actual custom ASIC they made ($50k-100k just for a small production run), or it's made from software defined radios and a reasonably powerful computer or an FPGA (single to tens of $k)

[@antonyalen2745]

@@AKAtheA Thanks

[@antonyalen2745]

@@AKAtheA Do you have any specific hardware in mind or any useful material I can use to do my research. I'm new to this but all the same, very interested.

[@suetaylor1127]

I think that would now be called a satellite! Its not the first one, the first low flying one maybe. But there was a company that makes the solar powered fixed wings drones that can stay in the air for indefinitely

[@jasonvancil6871]

How can I buy this exact setup

[@matsv201]

Dont the plane have to land for recharging every 6 hours or so?

[@grumpyou1138]

You should use it to load custom rom updates to unsuspecting people below the flight path!

[@thinkflight]

that would be unbelievably messed up and hilarious

[@markreed9853]

I heard of someone attaching a kite to a mobile broadband adapter to get better reception!

[@zahraalimn187]

What is the max flight time

[@cmtetaboaco]

Now we have star-link

[@konsul2006]

I would think a blimp would serve the purpose better. But this is cool :)

[@alexscarbro796]

Here in the UK, a flying cell tower breaks all sorts of OfCom spectrum usage licensing laws. Is the same not true in the US with the FCC?

[@gcm4312]

*agent nervously laughs*

[@johnbergamini3567]

We don't do no stnkin' laws here!

[@grim-upnorth]

I suspect this is a prototype and it's intended use case most certainly isn't in locations in the world where ofcom or similar regulations are enforced lol

[@artistart55]

Dose the cell tower connect to a satellite?

[@pilotmiami1]

Thenks

[@starxust3827]

How long does it fly

[@michaelreyes5]

I need a kit!!

[@11537]

agree - looks like good kit model :)

[@realvanman1]

I believe that’s called a Stingray or a DIRT unit. Or maybe those are one and the same. A wireless wiretapping device. ;)

[@starchaser2489]

Your correct, Stingrays. Every city in the U.S.A. has private pilots that take these up when shit hits the fan. My father got calls to deploy when needed.

[@yzdatabase4175]

yeah but what's the cell hardware??

[@leonbroekharst4724]

Super

[@jathawk101]

What happens when the battery charge runs out does it have the capability to stay up forever? Oh yeah! that’s why satellites were sent up, I’m not being a smartass I’m just pointing out some possible scenarios but it’s a possibility and a good idea.

[@dalethomasdewitt]

Logically a replacement takes up the slack.

[@jathawk101]

@@dalethomasdewitt - Cool, but it’s not cost effective unless you have all the networks putting monetary resources into the program which I think is a possibility. Then again you also run into weather conditions which limit flying time, hurricanes, heavy snow clouds, super cloudy conditions with high winds. I’m not knocking it down it’s things and conditions that I think need to be considered. Good idea though maybe a bigger aircraft like a military type drone?

[@ddegn]

Hey you forgot to add an affiliate link to the cell tower electronics. Yes, I'm joking. You make some really beautiful airplanes (including this one). Thanks for another interesting video.

[@antonyalen2745]

Hello, is it possible that you know any of the hardware used as the "cell tower"?

[@ddegn]

@@antonyalen2745 I don't know what sort of hardware is used. I imagine it is rather specialized and not easy for most people to purchase.

[@fredggp]

An on board camera in this plane would be perfect….

[@bjlbernal]

I can think of three reasons for not saying [beep] name. His friend, [beep], is not American and has a name that sounds vulgar when said to an American audience. His friend, [beep], works in a classified department of some government agency. Or his friend [beep] is being called vulgar names on purpose for another reason.

[@THEScottCampbell]

A high altitude mini-airship with solar power would be a MUCH better flying cell "tower". a captive balloon might be even better in dealing with jet stream winds.

[@raymondo162]

to get to the jetstream with a captive balloon is NOT as easy as it sounds. for one thing you need a TONNE of rope. if you look up kite altitude records you'll see that weight of the line is crucial..............

[@qbertatx]

Is that a custom airframe?