RC Airplane Flight Across the USA
On June 14^th, 2014, I will launch a handmade foam remote control airplane off the California Coast, briefly fly over the Pacific ocean, and then turn it east to fly all 2,600 miles (4,200km) across the United States to the Georgia coast. It will take about a week of flying, landing and servicing, while our chase vehicle follows closely behind.

The USA Trip: 4 Years in the Making
In 2011, I made it my goal to fly an RC airplane across the United States. It was a crazy goal, and almost no one thought it was possible. No one that is, except for the viewers of MyGeekShow, my YouTube channel. Since that day, we (myself and the thousands of MyGeekShow supporters) have steadily worked towards this goal; in 2011, it was to focus on developing the skills to designing and building an RC airplane just as good or better than a kit. In 2012, it was to add technology (video transmitters, telemetry, flight controllers, on board GPS and compass, etc). In 2013, I focused on long range and endurance flight, taking the airplane further, faster and longer. And finally, in 2014, was to design, build the airplane that could fly 100 miles in an hour and half without stopping to rest or recharge, and to prepare for, and make, the trip of a lifetime! Learn more about the Show and the USA trip by visiting www.MyGeekShow.com

I Need Your Help!
I am personally funding this trip with thousands of dollars of my own money, and throwing in all my earnings from my online store where I sell RC Airplane kits (store.mygeekshow.com). But that can only get me about half way, I need your help to make this possible.

 Your Donations will go Towards:
-Travel Expenses
-Food for the 4 man crew
-Motorhome Rental
-Fuel for the Motorhome
-2 or more Raptor140 UAVs (the RC Airplane to make the trip, plus a backup or two)
-28 Li-Ion Battery Packs
-18 Battery Chargers
-Video Monitors
-Ground Station Laptop
-Shipping (many big, heavy boxes to ground ship to CA, from GA)
-Video Equipment
-Transmitters and Antennas

But Wait, Why Do This Trip?
For many reasons! For the adventure, for the challenge. To prove that it can be done. To show that UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, or “drones”) don’t have to be weapons, but can be used for peace and exploration. To demonstrate the advancement of technology, batteries, communications, etc. And really, in the end… for FUN!

What is in it For You?
Other than helping to finish a 5 year journey, you can receive the following perks:
$5 - Name on MyGeekShow.com’s USA trip page forever!
$15 - I’ll write on and mail you a postcard from one of our stops while on the USA trip!
$25 - Bags of sand from the beach we take off from in California, and the beach we land on in Flordia, 2,600mi/4,200km away!
$30 - Chat with me (Trent) on Skype or Google+! Talk about the trip, the show, your RC set up, whatever!
$30 - Loan me a battery charger! I'll use it for the trip, then mail it to you. See the battery charger here: LINK
$40 - Receive an iron on USA Trip/Mission patch NASA Style!
$50 - Create a MyGeekShow episode! Work with me to plan out an Episode that will appear on my YouTube channel.
$50 - Advertise on the airplane! Get a 6x6in (15x15cm) section of under the airplane’s wing to put your name/business/cause.
$70 - Loan me a NCR18650B battery pack! I'll using it on the trip, then mail it to you See THIS episode and THIS episode to learn more about the impressive capabilities of the cells. They will only see a dozen flights or so, and will have plenty of life in them as they last even longer than LiPo cells.
$100 - Online ad! Permanent 728x90 ad on MyGeekShow's USA Trip page on MyGeekShow.com. Provide an image and a link to your site! Those who visit the page will see you supported the trip.
$120 - Get a special edition of the Raptor 140 Kit, in BLACK EPP foam instead of the traditional white foam. USA Trip Raptors will be black. Can/will be signed by Trent in white marker.
$130 - Loan me a FPV system! See this LINK for the details on the FPV transmitter, and this LINK for the Receiver. Its a long range 400mw 1.3Ghz transmitter/receiver. It will be a back up unit, and might not even be used. I'll send it to you after we finish the trip.
$150 - Advertise on the airplane! Get the whole left or right top section of the airplane’s wing to put your name/business/cause.
$150 - Walking advertisements! Send us t-shirts and we'll wear them for one of the flight days during the trip. They will be caught on camera, showing up on the episodes and social media updates, etc.
$190 - Loan me a 12in FPV monitor! Its your monitor, just let us borrow it for a few days! See this LINK for the item's details. I'll send it to you after we finish the trip.
$200 - Sponsor a Day of video! I’ll publish a video for each day of the trip, your name/logo will appear as well as receive a shout out.
$250 - Loan me a Long Range Telemetry System! See this LINK for the seller's details. It is a long range 900mhz telemetry system capable of over 40km(25mi) of range! It will be a back up unit, and might not even be used. I'll send it to you after we finish the trip.
$300 - Loan me an EZUHF System! See this LINK for the seller's details. Its a long range 433mhz transmitter/receiver. It will be a back up unit, and might not even be used. I'll send it to you after we finish the trip.
$2,000 - Receive one of the USA Raptors. 100% totally ready to fly, an exact copy in every way of the Raptor140 that will fly across the country. Includes all the electronics, flight controller, cameras, batteries, transmitters, ground station, etc. You could take this set up and fly across the USA with it... I will! : )

Why the Fixed Funding?
This is an all or nothing project. We can’t properly or safely attempt it with only half the components as all are needed to make the trip successful.

MyGeekShow: A proven track record.
Over the last 4 years, myself, my viewers and the show in general has proven that we can succeed. We’ve gone from the most humble gliders to the most advanced RC airplanes in the world. The Raptor 140 this year alone has flown over a thousand miles without issue, including many “cross country” flights (take off and land at different locations). The whole “ecosystem” of pilot, aircraft, ground station and logistics has been successful.

Who is Trent?
I’ve been running MyGeekShow for almost four years, planning, filming, editing, publishing, building, designing, flying, repairing, etc. every aspect of the show since day one. I love technology and flight. I live in Arkansas, have a family, a full time job, and many community responsibilities. Learn more at MyGeekShow.com/aboutus/

How else can I help?
If donating money to the cause isn’t your thing, spread the word! Tweet it! Facebook it! Share it! Let others know about the trip. The more people there are that know about it, the more support it can receive.

FAQ:

Is this legal?
Yes. While there is a lot of confusion/discussion out there right now, this is perfectly legal. There are rules the FAA has set out and best practices set by recognized aviation and hobby groups that we will be following.

Is this Safe?
Yes! There are many, many redundant systems on the airplane and ground station that will actively prevent a crash. It’s not just theory, I personally have flow over a thousand miles with this equipment without a single crash (maybe a few rough landings!). I have conducted and will continue to conduct many “cross country” flights (take off and land at different locations) to learn and to test and to prove the system. We will be flying over remote and empty locations. We will be staying away from airports and other sensitive areas. We will maintain “line of sight” of the airplane 99% of the time. It’s also a 6ft foam airplane that weighs less than a textbook!! The most “dangerous” aspect of this trip will be us driving on American highways, which kill 34,000 people each year. Deaths by RC Airplanes? Zero.

Will you do this in one flight?
No. We will be making many flights, each one lasting about 1.5 hours and covering about 90mi (150km). We will take off, fly 90 miles, land, replace the batteries, and repeat the process until we’ve flown across the USA.

Has this ever been done?
Yes, in 1975, Bob Rich and team flew gas powered airplanes while sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, and flew for 29 days to cross the USA from North Carolina, to California. To my knowledge, it hasn’t been done since. Things have changed a little since then, it was 39 years ago! We'll be doing it in almost 1/6th the time.

How will you fly the airplane/make the trip?
While the Pilot will always be in control of the airplane and maintain visual sight, the airplane has the capability to take off, navigate and land fully autonomously. We will be using this feature for a 99% of the flight. We will launch the airplane, set it on a course of waypoints, follow it in a chase vehicle to its predetermined landing location, land it and service it, and repeat the process.

Will you take back up airplanes?
Yes. While a crash hasn’t happened in over a year (and I fly hundreds of miles each week!) it is possible that a crash could leave an airplane damaged beyond or repair. We will take at least one, and if possible, more back up aircraft. However, it is my intention to complete the flight with one airplane. Even if that means doing repairs on the way. 

Who is going on the trip?
A crew of 4 people will go on the cross country flight. Each person has a specific responsibility: Pilot, Driver, Navigator and Engineer. 
 
Ask more questions! trent@mygeekshow.com