Buckle, B.
Ben Buckle RPV
Contents
History
An engineer and model aircraft hobbyist, Ben Buckle, of Highworth, Wiltshire, formed his company in 1982 to manufacture and market small RPVs for aerial photography.
Company References
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1985-1986 ed. John W R Taylor
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR21 | 1982 | Prdn | ? | Mini RPV | 1 | ||||
| PR13 | Owl | 1984 | Prdn | ? | Mini RPV | 1 |
Project References
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1985-1986 ed. John W R Taylor
Production Details and Type Description
PR21
Small pilotless aircraft, intended for such applications as aerial photography, air sampling and cropspraying. A high-wing monoplane of pod and boom configuration, the wing, constructed on a rigid foam core and covered with plywood and nylon, has a specially developed aerofoil section combining high lift with exceptional longitudinal stability. Trailing-edge flaps aid very short take-off and, when extended fully to 90°, serve as effective airbrakes for landing in confined spaces. The RPV takes off from small wheeled trolley; lands on underfuselage skid. One Quadra 50 cc single-cylinder two-stroke petrol-burning engine with a two-blade pusher propeller.
Small pilotless aircraft, intended for such applications as aerial photography, air sampling and cropspraying. A high-wing monoplane of pod and boom configuration, the wing, constructed on a rigid foam core and covered with plywood and nylon, has a specially developed aerofoil section combining high lift with exceptional longitudinal stability. Trailing-edge flaps aid very short take-off and, when extended fully to 90°, serve as effective airbrakes for landing in confined spaces. The RPV takes off from small wheeled trolley; lands on underfuselage skid. One Quadra 50 cc single-cylinder two-stroke petrol-burning engine with a two-blade pusher propeller.
| Specification | |||||||||
| Span | Length | Height | Wing Area | Empty Wt | Max AUW | Cruise Speed | Maximum Speed | Range | Service Ceiling |
| 10 ft | 6 ft 8 in | 16.6 sq ft | 70 lb | 93 mph/ 81 kn | |||||
| 3.05 m | 2.03 m | 1.54 m2 | 32 kg | 150 kph | |||||
Production details unknown.
PR13
Prototype to a customer requirement for a quiet, stable, easy to control air vehicle capable of carrying two standard 35 mm cameras and having a 20 min endurance. Initial trials with a scaleddown. Conventional tractor monoplane design with 'taildragger' landing gear. Three different wings were tested (with flaps and ailerons, without flaps, and without either). Tailplane fitted with twin fins and rudders.
Prototype to a customer requirement for a quiet, stable, easy to control air vehicle capable of carrying two standard 35 mm cameras and having a 20 min endurance. Initial trials with a scaleddown. Conventional tractor monoplane design with 'taildragger' landing gear. Three different wings were tested (with flaps and ailerons, without flaps, and without either). Tailplane fitted with twin fins and rudders.
Production details unknown.
Total Ben Buckle Production?
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- Improved Type Description and added Specification Details.