Cost Per Flight

[matwelli]

Have an interesting scenario developing, there is a chance in my current day job, to bring some inspection work by multicopter into play, and i need to work out what the cost per flight is, the final figure blows me away

I worked it out like this, based on a lightweight quad, running a gopro hero2, fpv, telemetry, OSD/GPS and a decent transmitter
I figure on doing 100 flights per year, and replacing the frame/fpv/telemetry every year(stuff wears out/breaks), the go-pro every year, the TX and charger every two years

so total replacement cost per year is $2450 (NZD)
divided by 100 flights = $24.50 per flight


now the extra per flight costs, based on replacing motors/esc's every 100 flights, props every 20 flights and battery every 50 flights = $6

so all up $30.50 per flight, or $3.81 per minute !

does that sound right / trying to be realistic and working on stacking it into the ground once per year

 

[BorisS]

japp one could probably add in the camera gimbal usage also having to change servos after a certain amount of usage. But i think you are going for hard mounted in your calculation ?

Boris

 

[Kilby]

100 flights and your motors & esc's need to be replaced? 20 flights / set of props? If that were the case I'd be ordering new props every week! Why such a high turn over rate? Sounds high to me. Just my 2cents.

 

[BorisS]

japp i have to agree 20 flights change props in the case of 50 60 euro CF props i would already be a poor man ! Graupners i don have to keep on for a long time ! Probably 40 50 flight with the CX and no probs

 

[matwelli]

i figured a set of 4 cheap props ($2 each)every 20 flights to be safe, if i use something more spendy, say APC at $7 each, then maybe 60 flights, but the cost will be similar. need to have a safe flight time within which they will be swapped before failure.

problem is, can anyone tell me what the failure rate is ? from Gary Mortimer he has found the cheap esc's (such as hobbywing/turnigy) are good for around 100 flights

Lipos, figured on 50 cycles before retiring to the fun flying bin.

If I jig the numbers around, and rely on gear lasting longer between upgrades, cost drops down to $20 per flight ($16 USD) but if i have a couple of bad crashes, will be out of pocket. I also need to alowing for the cost of time doing maintenance, keeping log books etc

Anyway, its a figure to start on

 

[Efliernz]

Mat

Buy some good props!

My APC's on the hexa had 15 hours on them and they are still working well. I wouldn't use anything less for AP flying.

I budget for a total loss once a year. I have lost 3 AP heli's in nearly 6 six years so that is good... but the loss of a diy machine is so much less than a commercial turn-key build. The chance of losing "everything" is also minimum.

50 uses of a lipo (carrying a camera) I link is about right.

Pete

 

[matwelli]

you know me, mr budget !

15 hrs is 112 flights, so good info to know, thanks Pete