The Chimera (Scratch Built VTOL)

by FliteTest | February 2, 2015 | (20) Posted in Projects

 

Today we take a little bit of a trip down memory lane for Peter's first ever Flite Test Episode, hosted by Alex, Josh, and Peter.

The guys are flying Peters abomination of a VTOL, the Chimera. He describes it as a little bit of everything mixed into one build.

Josh isn't to sure about how this monster will react and carefully preps it for launch.

And it lifts! It starts out like a tricopter, and even handles quite well.

Mid-transition from the tricopter start into a plane.

Nooooo! It was so young, why cruel world! Needless to say, there was a hardware malfunction.

The onboard view of the crash.

Peter going to recover what is left of his creation.

Whats left of the Chimera, a short lived flight that ended in tragedy.

The guys giving an overview of what happened.

The culprit of this crash, a disconnected antenna.

This was one of Peters first interviews for Flite Test.

This VTOL s was one of many of Peter's crazy creations, he's hoping to make it a speed build kit somewhere down the road. Let us know if you'd like to see it. 

Thanks for watching guys! We wouldn't be where we are today without you, the fans, keeping us going.

COMMENTS

DStBone on February 2, 2015
giiif VTOL!

Love it!
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cracked prop on February 2, 2015
Yes!!! Instructions, please? (Well, not the crash part, I don't need help there...) But yes. The Guinea, and the VTOL Guinea are cool, but this is the one I've really wanted to build since the first time I saw it.
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RickPeck on February 3, 2015
How about a V-22 Osprey type of kit? I like the Chimera too.
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Axel on February 2, 2015
Oh! Peters VTOL machines has always been the coolest RC stuff I have seen! I wanted a VTOL so badly that i glued som motors to one of my scratchbuilds facing skywards, slapped on a KK and yanked the throttle. That worked, but quite inelegant solution where transition was achieved by just throttling up the forward facing motor and throttling down the skywards facing ones. I would jump of joy if you were to show how Peter did with the control board! Also how he did the X-19.
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Corsair2014 on February 2, 2015
I agree!
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cj_ace5 on February 2, 2015
Yes!!! Please!!! Or at least provide plans and a build video.
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timhouse on February 9, 2015
Would love to have these plans, if you do a speedbuild kit I'll buy two! What's great about this concept is that it allows the pilot to operate the craft slowly and then revert back to vertical flight if he gets tired to safely land!
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Sharky on February 3, 2015
"QUAD" speed build kit if you please complete with rotating hardware for the motors. I have been waiting for this for a long time, something big like a cargo ship of some kind an maybe a smaller version of it as well. Perfect this an there will be lots of orders for kits as I believe this is what the people have been waiting for! A few company's have built others but they were all WAY TO EXPENSIVE! GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT! Thanks guys you Rock.
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themistocles3 on February 2, 2015
Nice use of the bolt face!
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danield on February 3, 2015
Yes, yes, yes, No.
That's plans, build, video, crash instructions, I have already mastered that.
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FunkyPops on March 3, 2015
Plans would be great!! This plane reminds me of the OV-10 Bronco. Thanks Peter for your ideas and your contribution to the hobby!!
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jimbo on April 23, 2015
plans please a great plane that cat take off vertical and fly normal cool tiled plans please
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RoyBro on February 2, 2015
It probably crashed because you were mispronouncing its name. The "Ch" in Chimera is pronounced with the hard "ch" or "K" sound.
http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=chimera

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Ano Pilot on February 5, 2015
Yep, check out Wikipedia, most people pronounce like kye-meera.
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Digital Wolf on February 2, 2015
Its looking like a OV-10 Bronco "D make it more Bronco style plz!!!
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JosephR on March 10, 2015
Hello Peter,

Have you had any time to have a look at putting a few dimensions together for the Chimera, plans would be good but even an idea of the basic dimensions would help some of us work out the size from the pictures.

Thank you,
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DroneMe on May 10, 2015
Nice similarity to the Israeli 2014 Mini-Panther seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK9XE8TOxV4

Buzz from friends in the Military, there's another tri-cop plane version of the Mini-Panther. But, its tail prop drops for forward flight, which uses a small 3-blade low pitch prop at high torque. I've been unable to get any info on the two wing motor/props after transition. In forward mode its flight time is insane! Lift-off stability is achieved by using two gyros, It has a larger wingspan, not to be confused with the full size Panther Drone. Used in Israeli field recon so you won't find it up on youtube, apparently still classified.
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PropSpinner on February 2, 2015
Needs to be painted and decorated like a gunship!
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Psalmbody on February 5, 2015
I am curious, why Peter did not use the kk2.1 with the VTOL firmware. I would love to build a plane with the control of a quad for vertical take offs and landings. Is the KK2.1 not good for this and is a wii board better?
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Corsair2014 on February 2, 2015
when is the tough tilt files coming out.......
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LordVader on February 2, 2015
That was really cool. I am trying to build a Avatar Gunship, along with a quad, Trojan, Texan, etc. So many irons in the fire. But I would love to see a build and info article on this baby. Along with a updated Avatar Gunship article. So many cool projects, never a dull moment or a lag in excitement because all the cool stuff you guys are doing. Keep it up.
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thudd55 on February 2, 2015
am i crazy but remodel the fuse shape a little a couple of other tweaks and viola flitetest p-38 lightning
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gsgraber92 on February 3, 2015
Build plans for sure! Speed build kit even better! Can't wait for the build video!!! I have been digging all over the net for pics, videos and more glimpses of this VTOL.
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Adventurer on February 3, 2015
Speed build kit please this is sooo cool.
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andrewb on February 2, 2015
Make a speed build kit!
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maue on February 3, 2015
SPEED BUILD!!!!!!!

I love seeing Peters plane multi rotor hybrids. This is perfect for a try copter plane.
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RedBaron1 on February 3, 2015
How about pointing the tail motor down, then having it rotate to horizontal to provide added thrust in "airplane mode"?
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JosephR on February 7, 2015
Peter,

Sorry to see your creation hit the deck, good to know that it was not the design or build. I would also like to add my request for the plans and a build video and or a speed build kit. Great work and I hope we will see something soon.
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flitebrothers on February 2, 2015
That happened to my micro radian




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Spitfiremk16 on February 5, 2015
Another great episode and another cool plane! I am looking forward to seeing a speed build kit of this. And to be able to build, fly and crash one of my own!
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coffeebean56 on April 4, 2015
Hi, Peter! Is your friend interested in making money by selling thru FT the KK boards that get this to work?
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thudd55 on February 2, 2015
almost forgot when are the kit and plans going to be released?
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HappySundays on February 2, 2015
Hey guys, don't forget that you can use OpenAeroVTOL (for KK2.1 boards) to help here. It's the *only* flight control software custom made for controlling models in and between hover and forward flight. Free too... Details on RCGroups.
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Gryf on February 3, 2015
VTOL or not, the Chimera is a really nice-looking design! It just looks "right", and the VTOL is just the icing on the cake. Nice job, Peter and the team.
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danz on February 6, 2015
I'd certainly buy a speed build kit of the Chimera if you guys put one out. Looks like it would be a ton of fun!
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Thor_R on February 5, 2015
I love the look of that airframe Peter! It would be great to get plans for a non-VTOL Chimera or better yet a twin swappable!
You guys rock and while I am disappointed that you had a crash there's much respect for sharing it with us.
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trevjames on June 2, 2015
I have loved the full size Guinea Pig. It would be amazing to have plans for the Chimera. Great designs Peter.
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rcsimon on June 5, 2015
I really enjoy the FT team's creativity! VTOL is on my list of projects. If you made a full build video (or even if it was just a shorter "tips and tricks for VTOL") I would watch it and give it try. If you made a kit, I would buy it. Thanks for the fun show.
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Eric wison on June 24, 2015
I would snatch up a speed build in a HOTTFAN second! Please make this happen!
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JosephR on June 17, 2015
Hello Peter,

Have you had a chance to do more with this design and maybe build another version of it. Love to see more and even a speed kit from Flite Test, what are the chances? Please don't let this concept die as I am sure there will be many people who would like to integrate a multi rotor with a plane, best of both worlds. Look forward to hearing something soon, regards, JosephR.
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JosephR on September 1, 2015
Hello Josh and Peter,

Is there any news about this project, have you had any luck in developing the speed build kit or maybe even releasing some plans. I know that many out here would like to build this hybrid.

Maybe you could let us know soon.
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Austin Blair on September 1, 2015
Hello Flight Test,
I know that there are a lot of us who have seen the you-tube video on the "Chimera" and are anticipating build plans. A speed build or a scratch build would be amazing, for this awesome build. Regards, Blair

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jmboyson on November 10, 2015
Definitely would love to see a speed build kit for the chimera.
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lclark on November 4, 2015
This is a great project. I'd really like to see plans, or at the very least, some more detail on the controller that was used and how it was set up.
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jimm1 on October 7, 2015
The Chimera is exactly the form factor I would want in a VTOL. Wish I could buy one RTF.

Has Peter thought about crowd-funding this beast??
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Talsharf on October 11, 2015
Hi guys!
I too want to ask if there are any news about releasing some plans, or developing a speed build kit for this hybrid?
I am living in a place where it is hard to find enough space for a regular take off and landing, and a hybrid like that would solve that problem for me, and I believe for many others.
Please let's us know soon.
Tal
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Zbigniew Raczkowski on October 24, 2015
I saw a video where Peter had a VTOL with an inverted V-Tail in the back. So I was thinking could that rear motor be turned over and become a pusher so that when motors tilt to forward flight the rear motor could then make this plane a 3 motored speed plane???
Zbig.
Tottenham On.
Canada.
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86Levi on February 9, 2016
Yes I agree about a speed build kit. Also a true fixed wing quad would be great. Keep up the good work.
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Brian Mac on April 11, 2016
Pretty Please?
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born49 on April 23, 2016
Peter has done a great job! Exactly this configuration is also on my list of projects. For my plan I would like to know the following facts of the chimera:
total weight ?
motor type?
dimension of the propeller?
3S / 4S?
My comment to previous posts: 2 motors for airplane mode are more than enough. The necessary pitch of the propeller for the copter mode is not optimal for the airplane mode. Furthermore the necessary mechanism for the rear motor is very complex. (Tilt mechanism for yaw and push axis!)
Düsseldorf
Germany
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Rusty Alford on February 7, 2022
You guys are ahead of the times. lol What neat aircraft! VTOL seems to be of interest today more than ever. I hope you do something similar. Cheers (watch out for the guys in the white coats! lol)
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The Chimera (Scratch Built VTOL)