Engineering:AFT UAV

AFT UAVs are Chinese UAVs developed by Beijing Always Flying Technology Co., Ltd. (AFT, 北京安翔动力科技有限公司), which is in the business of being an original equipment manufacturer and providing subsystem such as autopilots to other major UAV manufacturers in China. Recently, AFT has expanded its business into UAV arena based on the experience gained in the past by developing its own brand of UAVs. As of 2013, three of its products have been publicized.

Free Bird

Free Bird is a Chinese micro air vehicle (MAV) constructed of composite epoxy material. Free Bird has a conventional layout with T-tail, and propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine installed behind the wing. Free Bird is intended for various military and civilian applications. Specification:

• Wingspan: 1.68 m
• Length: 1.18 m
• Weight: 2.5 kg
• Cruise speed: 50 km/hr
• Ceiling: 5 km
• Endurance: 2 hr
• Max wind scale (speed) allowed for operation: 4 (30 km/hr)
• Power plant: 300 w brushless electric motor powered by lithium battery
• Launch: by hand
• Recovery: conventional landing

Hexacopter

AFT Hexacopter is developed by Zhenjiang New District Safely Soaring Tai-Yue Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (镇江新区安翔泰岳科技有限公司), a subsidiary of AFT in Jiangsu. This UAV is developed mainly for aerial photography and cinematography missions, and it is in typical hexacopter layout with a pair of skids as landing gear. The hexacopter is capable of real time imagery transmission. Specification:

• Ceiling (km): 4
• Endurance (hr): 1
• Payload (kg): 5

Single Soldier I

Single Soldier I (Dan-Bing Yi-Hao or Danbing Yihao, 单兵一号) is a Chinese micro air vehicle (MAV) constructed of carbon fiber with conventional layout, and it is powered by a two-blade propeller driven by a pusher engine installed behind the wing. Single Soldier I is in the same class of AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma and intended to perform similar functions. Specification:

• Wingspan: 2.477 m
• Length: 1.581 m
• Weight: 4.5 kg
• Cruise speed:60 km/hr
• Ceiling: 5 km
• Endurance: 1.5 hr
• Max wind scale (speed) allowed for operation: 4 (30 km/hr)
• Power plant: lithium battery
• Launch: by hand or catapult
• Recovery: conventional landing

J-10 Simulation Drone

J-10 Simulation Drone (Jian-10 Moxing, 歼-10模型) is a Chinese UAV constructed of honeycomb composite material and is used as a training drone for the positive visual identification of J-10. Specification:

• Length: 2.7 m
• Empty weight: 8.5 kg
• Max takeoff weight: 12 kg
• Power: Jetcat P160 turbojet

See also

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China