The Freightdog - Your Cardboard Cargo Plane
The Freightdog is a twin engine cargo hauler. It's easy to fly, and has very docile handling characteristics. It's cavernous interior is easily accessible, and it's fun to load her up and send her flying!
Yes, it could be made for FPV use - I use a top hatch mounted external FPV system - but the nose could easily be modified for an internal FPV system - just pay attention to CG.
The design is remarkably stable, and has ailerons that can be configured as flaperons in addition to a conventional elevator. Yaw control is provided via thrust asymmetry.
She flies well when light or loaded, and has demonstrated long endurance flights of well over an hour when equipped with a suitable battery.
Not designed for high load factors - but capable of gentle acrobatics as long as internal loads are secure to prevent CG shift. Think of this as a normal or utility category aircraft.
Designed to fly small payloads autonomously, this airframe is capable of carrying in excess of 550 grams internally.
How much is that?
500ml bottle of water
1 pint of beer
1 decent sized breakfast burrito (potato, chorizo, cheese and egg preferred)
A B-52 sized quantity of foam darts or paintballs
With a battery placed in the nose, and a flight controller just aft of the aileron hinge line - the plane has a generous cargo area surrounding the CG. Wiring from the motors is shielded from the cargo area with an internal wiring shelf for easy installation and removal of payloads. The large top hatch allows for easy access to the battery and payload bay.
Ram air vents in the nose and the top hatch's integrated air scoop allow cooling airflow into the fuselage. Airflow exits the fuselage through aft fuselage vents and ensure all internally mounted avionics stay cool and can sample ambient pressure.
The cardboard construction is durable, and she lands just fine on grass, dirt, or asphalt. Packing tape can be used to reinforce the belly for any scrapes or tears, and hot glue holds it all together making field repairs or modifications easy and quick. This is a remarkably durable aircraft.
Additionally, cardboard is largely invisible to RF - so internal receivers or transmitters for any science experiments should be largely unaffected by internal placement.
Specifications:
LOA 845mm
Wing Span 970mm
Chord 195
Airframe Weight 305g (no electronics)
Demonstrated CG 20mm aft of wing leading edge at wing root
Payload Area:
Length 200mm
Width 65mm
Height 65mm
Interchangeable payload trays
Motor mounting pattern: 16mm X 19mm M2.5 (common in 2205-2300kv or similar motors)
Suggested ESC's: 30 amp without BEC
Kit Includes:
Cardboard laser cut parts
4mm X 400mm Carbon fiber rod
Flight Control Horns
Top Hatch Vent Latch
Not Included in the kit:
3 9-gram servos (elevator and ailerons)
Receiver or Flight Controller and GPS
Control rods (easy to fabricate)
The build is straightforward - and after building your first airframe - your subsequent builds will go much quicker. When recycling parts from previous builds, I can build a new airplane in well under an hour.
This is an aircraft I'm proud of. It flies well, has tremendous utility for carrying payloads, plenty of room for large batteries, FPV gear, cameras, flight controllers, and whatever else you choose to stuff in there. Additions of openings and hatches are as simple as cutting cardboard, and complex payloads are simple to integrate when the airframe can be built around them.
It's still small enough to fit in the trunk of my car, and brings a smile to my face just to fly it around the park. However when the the need to carry a load arises - load it, secure it, and send it. The Freightdog will get the job done.
I really think you'll enjoy it.
Kit Contents
The kits come with all the laser cut parts for the airframe, the motor mounts, the carbon fiber rod for the wing spar, flight control horns, and the vent latch. You'll have to fabricate or secure your flight controller, GPS and receiver. You'll need to do your own wiring, and fabricate your own flight control push rods. Kits contain no electronics - you'll need to buy your own RC systems, flight controllers, servos, GPS, ESC, motors, propeller and anything else you need to complete your aircraft. Photos of completed aircraft are for example purposes only.
RETURN & REFUND POLICY
Returns accepted. Refunds given for returned, unused kits containing all parts, and in a resaleable condition. Purchaser responsible for return shipping. Not responsible for errors in workmanship during assembly, or damage to persons or property during use.
Terms of Sale and Disclaimer
Files are licensed for individual use only. No resale of files or kits based on what is offered here without a commercial license. Contact me for resale or commercial licensing.
Do not post these files online or otherwise share them. It discourages creators from wanting to share their work. I've put countless hours into this stuff.
I'm a dude in a garage with a laser cutter and a 3d printer. I'm selling you some cut cardboard and 3d printed plastic bits or files defining parts and planes. What you do with it is up to you. I take no responsibility for your actions or any damages you cause, or injuries you or anyone else sustains - building, flying or disposing of this stuff. There is no warranty for any fitness for use or performance guarantee.
This kit requires you to think for yourself, do research, and collaborate with others to get something working that you like. There are no written instructions - and marginal support at best. Either way - I've got faith in you. You can do this.