AIRCRAFT / BUYER’S GUIDE
Choosing a long-range VTOL drone.
The right aircraft starts with the mission: how far it must travel, what it carries, where it can take off and how much building you want to do. Compare demonstrated performance in a relevant configuration before comparing headline range numbers.
Start with the range you actually need.
| Measure | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Total flight distance | How much route distance was flown, with which payload, battery and remaining energy? |
| Operating radius | How far can the aircraft travel from its launch point and return with the required reserve? |
| Control-link range | At what distance was the radio link demonstrated, using which antennas and conditions? |
| Endurance | How long did the aircraft fly, and how much of that time was hover, transition or cruise? |
A long radio link does not establish flight endurance. A total distance figure does not establish an equal return-to-home radius. Wind, route geometry and reserve requirements affect the mission you can actually complete.
Ask for a flight result you can inspect.
A useful flight report identifies the aircraft revision, takeoff mass, payload, battery, weather, route, elapsed time and landing reserve. A flight log and continuous footage provide more context than a promotional edit or a speed × time calculation.
- Measured: flown and recorded with the configuration and conditions stated.
- Estimated: calculated from stated assumptions, including usable energy and power consumption.
- Target: a design objective awaiting validation.
Check the energy budget.
Nominal battery energy in watt-hours is voltage × amp-hours. For a simplified constant-power example, 22.2 V × 16 Ah is 355.2 Wh; at 200 W, that is about 1.78 hours before accounting for unusable capacity, VTOL phases or a landing reserve. This arithmetic is not a Dolphin VTOL flight prediction. It illustrates why a battery specification must support an endurance claim.
For your chosen configuration, request measured power and usable energy across takeoff, transition, cruise and landing. Compare aircraft with similar payloads and reserves.
Choose the aircraft and the build commitment together.
Decide whether your mission needs vertical takeoff and landing, sustained hovering or a launch and recovery area suitable for a fixed-wing aircraft. A VTOL design adds lift and transition hardware that must be included in the mass, power and integration budget.
For a printable aircraft, check the material specified for each part, printer capability, structural hardware and electronics before buying files. Include motors, ESCs, servos, flight controller, navigation sensors, battery, radio equipment and tools in your budget.
Build-file price and complete-aircraft cost are separate. Ask whether assembly time, total cost and performance have been measured on a completed build. Also check the file license against your intended use.
Where Dolphin VTOL fits.
Dolphin VTOL is Sauron Intelligence’s 3D-printable tandem-wing VTOL aircraft design for builders exploring long-range mapping and inspection projects. The digital package is available for $49 USD and includes aircraft model files, the build manual and a reference parameter file. Hardware is sourced separately.
It is a build project rather than a ready-to-fly aircraft. The reference configuration uses lightweight airframe materials, reinforced structural parts, carbon spars and separately purchased avionics and propulsion. Review the component list, manual and material guide first.
Current performance status
A measured range and endurance report is not currently published. Previously stated 6+ hours and 450 km figures are unverified and under review. They should not be used to select Dolphin VTOL for a mission requiring a proven distance. The product page’s performance status takes precedence over older figures in the manual and promotional material.
Dolphin VTOL is worth evaluating if you want a printable VTOL development platform and are prepared to integrate and validate your build. If you need a ready-to-fly aircraft with a demonstrated long-range capability today, require documented flight results before choosing.
The standard license covers personal and internal evaluation. Paid services and commercial production require written authorization; see the license terms.
Plan the aircraft and software as separate decisions.
SarumanOS is Sauron Intelligence’s desktop ground station and AI Pilot in active development. Its recorded simulator previews show reviewed mission planning and virtual patrol flight. They are not evidence of real-world Dolphin VTOL endurance or range. Public software builds are not yet available.