Materials

Flying Pig

I think aircraft aluminum should be sufficient for prototyping. I imagine that materials such as titanium and graphite are a tad too expensive, but I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more about it all.

After yet more reading, it looks like steel is a viable structural material. Though, it seems heavy, it's relative strength is, apparently, good enough. We'll see...

I've seen real working airplanes on YouTube, url goes here, made almost entirely of resources purchased from Home Depot, so nothing exotic is actually required, just nice to have... It's good, reassuring, to know...

I've checked the prices of some materials and even carbon fiber appears affordable, only because not much will be needed.

I think the body may need to have a skeleton frame, probably aluminum. The main filler of the body will probably be melamine foam, because it is light and non-flammable, unlike styrofoam for example. The skin will be UV resistant epoxied carbon fiber and kevlar. My guestimate of the weight is about 50 lbs or less, excluding all but the body. The fully assembled finished body will stand about eight feet tall and twenty (fifteen bare minimum) plus feet around.