[aprssig] APRS Drones

[Jason KG4WSV]

> On Dec 6, 2015, at 1:14 PM, Robert Bruninga via aprssig <aprssig at tapr.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 1) Hover - How long could a special event APRS digipeater drone remain aloft if it was assisted by a few party balloons so that it was slightly negative lift.  How long could the drone extend its mission with the lift motors on their lowest practical speed?

Not nearly as long as if you just used balloons and left the UAV out of the picture. 

A hover is very expensive in terms of power, and unless you've got a lift surface and some forward velocity to generate lift it's practically all hover. Any significant payload and you're looking at 30 minutes flight time. 

-Jason
kg4wsv