Estes XB-39 RC spyplane with 26-shot digicam

We still like the idea of hooking up a digital camera to a kite to take aerial shots, but if you're more into actually scoping out the territory than creating a DIY device that's as likely to crash as it is to fly, you may want to check out the XB-39 Eagleye from Estes Rockets. The $150 remote controlled toy spyplane has a 55-inch wingspan, can reach altitudes of up to 1,000 feet, and can shoot up to 26 pics from its onboard digicam. Just be careful not to fly it too close to bridges, dams or nuclear power plants, unless you want it shot down by homeland security forces.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[William DC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

*sigh* and the prize for "just slap yourself you retards" goes to *drum roll* the makers of this crap!

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Looks like it would be easy to swap out that camera for a small video cam/transmitter setup.

Not complex enough though.

Let's graft some more engine nacelles onto the thing for true "Doctor Strangelove" fun!

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#1
What exactly is your problem with this?

I think this could be an interesting scientific device for children.

I know for a fact that my 4 yr old would love the seeing the pictures taken from above..

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yeah and I like the 'Safety Recall' at the bottom of every page.

[Zex_Suik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I want to know what quality the camera is. If it's 640 x 480 then they can stuffit but if it's 1.3 MP and above then that'd be great.

However looking at the price I don't think this would get higher than 1.3MP.

I likes it though. I have some uses for this. I'm sure some paparazzi do as well (think backyards in summer in Beverly Hills)

[iilucky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

So i've seen this advertised in a couple catalogs. You'll note Walmart fails to mention the battery life on a fully charged battery: A whopping 7 minutes! I suppose that's enough time for a quick fly by of jennifer aniston tanning by the pool though.

[iz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Here's a video of the thing in flight: http://www.smarthome.com/audio/95621-1.wmv

[Wry Cooter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

A plane that large COULD heft a larger ultracompact digital cam, but how many people are comfortable crashing a 400 dollar camera? That is the main things almost all RC planes do, you know, as one learns (but a kite does that too). Just the plane with enough lift, and a slow glide, plus controls will cost up to 300 dollars, plus a lot of DIY. Hard to fly a payload more than 5 ounces beyond the weight of the plane itself. Potentially, it could have one of the better phone cam circuits.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Oh man, #7. The "Airwolf" soundtrack on that video was so worth it! Now I simply must have one!

Also, as a preteen/teen I built countless Estes (and Century) model rockets, so I kind of have soft spot for these kinds of 'toys'.

[Carbsumer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The SmartHome page some sample pics:

http://www.smarthome.com/95621.html

That page also has an instruction manual. And here's the sample pics:

http://www.smarthome.com/images/95621side8big.jpg

So yeah, they're small, but I'm still asking for one for Christmas.

[CrashingDutchman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Anyone interested in Aerial Photography, with r/c aircraft, should have a look at this website:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=128

[Mr.Gadget Australia @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Some people need to get outdoors and actually experience life. RC Planes is a great way of doing so! I've got several planes, my latest is a P-51 Mustang and I find the only time I really spend outdoors these days is flying (or crashing) it. :)

Spend way too much time on the internet!!

This looks like a cool plane. It'd be cool if it had a 'drop' module too!

[zz boom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

On the video at SmartHome, I want to see the photo of when they crashed the thing into the building at the end.....

[Kay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have a foam plane similar to this, that cost much less and has a slightly lower quality pictures, but it has a drop module. :)

I like this, but I'd rather be rich, spend $20,000 on a large jet, spend like $100 on parts for a remote controlled camera mount for a digital SLR. Also extra money to mount it inside the plane...

But alas, I am not rich.

Still, pretty nice.