Kartal Air

Build Logs

Follow our journey from concept to competition-ready aircraft

A Strong Start on Day One: Technical Inspections Cleared & Flight 1 Accomplished!
2026-09-15

A Strong Start on Day One: Technical Inspections Cleared & Flight 1 Accomplished!

On the opening day of RoboNation SUAS 2026, Team GÖKTİM Kartal Air took to the field and completed the full assembly of the METE UAV. After successfully clearing the judges' rigorous technical, safety, and avionics inspections, our aircraft executed its first official flight mission with precision and flight safety. Validating our autonomous navigation and mission parameters under real-world conditions gives us great momentum. Driven by teamwork and focused resolve, we are already full-steam ahead for Flight 2!

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Night Shift in Tulsa: Relentless Pre-Flight Preparations!
2026-09-14

Night Shift in Tulsa: Relentless Pre-Flight Preparations!

At SUAS 2026, every fine-tuning detail counts. Team GÖKTİM Kartal Air keeps the momentum going through the night in Tulsa, rigorously preparing our METE UAV for upcoming competition sorties. From avionics checks and sensor calibrations to mission route validations under real-world conditions, our crew is working shoulder-to-shoulder on the field. Driven by teamwork, shared passion, and resilience, we are fully committed to delivering our best flight performance yet.

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The Spirit of Collaboration in Tulsa!
2026-09-14

The Spirit of Collaboration in Tulsa!

Months of dedicated engineering have brought us together at the SUAS 2026: Storm Response orientation in Tulsa! Sharing the room with brilliant teams from across the globe, this journey is about far more than competing—it is about friendship, technical solidarity, and overcoming challenges side by side. Team GÖKTİM Kartal Air and our METE UAV are mission-ready to learn, support one another, and deliver an unforgettable run!

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Test Part 2: Field Verification & Autotune PID Calibration
2026-07-30

Test Part 2: Field Verification & Autotune PID Calibration

Validating real-world flight dynamics across 20+ flight sorties up to 38 m/s speeds.

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Test Part 1: Simulation Environments & Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL)
2026-07-30

Test Part 1: Simulation Environments & Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL)

Digital twin verification using SITL, Gazebo physics, and closed-loop hardware testing.

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Avionics & AI Part 4: Risk Mapping System Design (OpenDroneMap Pipeline)
2026-07-29

Avionics & AI Part 4: Risk Mapping System Design (OpenDroneMap Pipeline)

Post-flight orthophoto map generation featuring high geometric accuracy and constant image overlap calculations.

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Avionics & AI Part 3: Trigonometric Ray-Casting & Pitot-Supported Ballistic Drop
2026-07-29

Avionics & AI Part 3: Trigonometric Ray-Casting & Pitot-Supported Ballistic Drop

Pixel-to-geographic target localization and dynamic wind-compensated payload drop mechanics.

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Avionics & AI Part 2: Object Detection Pipeline & Hybrid Data Engineering
2026-07-29

Avionics & AI Part 2: Object Detection Pipeline & Hybrid Data Engineering

TensorRT FP16 optimization of YOLOv11m and fine-tuning via a hybrid real/synthetic dataset to achieve mAP50 > 0.90.

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Avionics & AI Part 1: Two-Layer Isolated Architecture & Hardware Trade-Off
2026-07-29

Avionics & AI Part 1: Two-Layer Isolated Architecture & Hardware Trade-Off

Hardware isolation between flight control and mission computing, plus selecting Jetson Xavier NX over Raspberry Pi 5.

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Powertrain Part 3: Power Architecture, EMI Shielding & Electrical Safety
2026-07-28

Powertrain Part 3: Power Architecture, EMI Shielding & Electrical Safety

Parallel LiPo architecture compliant with <100Wh limits, electromagnetic shielding, and physical kill switches.

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Powertrain Part 2: High-Current Management, Joule Heating & Ram-Air Cooling
2026-07-28

Powertrain Part 2: High-Current Management, Joule Heating & Ram-Air Cooling

Resolving > 100 derece C wire overheating identified during static thrust tests via gauge upgrades and active scoops.

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Powertrain Part 1: Propulsion System — Why an 80 mm EDF (Electric Ducted Fan)?
2026-07-28

Powertrain Part 1: Propulsion System — Why an 80 mm EDF (Electric Ducted Fan)?

An internal jet propulsion architecture eliminating exposed propeller hazards and enhancing high-speed stability.

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Aerodynamics Part 3: Control Surfaces & Tapered Aileron Geometry
2026-07-27

Aerodynamics Part 3: Control Surfaces & Tapered Aileron Geometry

Maintaining sharp roll control near stall speeds while minimizing servo mechanical torque stress.

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Aerodynamics Part 2: Passive Aerodynamic Safety — Washout, Incidence & Dihedral
2026-07-27

Aerodynamics Part 2: Passive Aerodynamic Safety — Washout, Incidence & Dihedral

Mitigating tip-stall risks during low-speed loitering through passive geometric angular offset.

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Aerodynamics Part 1: MH32 Airfoil & Truncated Trailing Edge Modification
2026-07-27

Aerodynamics Part 1: MH32 Airfoil & Truncated Trailing Edge Modification

Low drag, high L/D effiiency, and a profile modification optimizing 3D printing layer adhesion.

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Mechanical Part 4: Landing Gear Kinematics & Dual-Spring Suspension (STOL)
2026-07-23

Mechanical Part 4: Landing Gear Kinematics & Dual-Spring Suspension (STOL)

Damping landing impact energy and establishing a passive ground stance angle for Short Take-Off ($STOL$)

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Mechanical Part 3: Design for Manufacturing & Rapid Field Maintenance (DFMA & MTTR)
2026-07-22

Mechanical Part 3: Design for Manufacturing & Rapid Field Maintenance (DFMA & MTTR)

Overcoming 3D printer volume limits and achieving field assembly/repair times under 15 minutes.

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Mechanical Part 2: Aeroelastic Flex Mitigation — Concentric Carbon Spar Architecture
2026-07-21

Mechanical Part 2: Aeroelastic Flex Mitigation — Concentric Carbon Spar Architecture

Eliminating high-G wing flexing across a 2,202.51 mm wingspan without adding parasitic external struts.

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Mechanical Part 1: Fuselage Architecture & Space Truss Frame
2026-07-20

Mechanical Part 1: Fuselage Architecture & Space Truss Frame

Decoupling outer aerodynamic fairings from structural flight loads and integrating a modular Center of Gravity (CG) adjustment rail.

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Governor of Kayseri Mr. Gökmen Çiçek and Dener Group CEO Mr. Cemal Dener Visited Our Workshop!
2026-07-15

Governor of Kayseri Mr. Gökmen Çiçek and Dener Group CEO Mr. Cemal Dener Visited Our Workshop!

Governor of Kayseri Mr. Gökmen Çiçek and Dener Group CEO Mr. Cemal Dener inspected our project workshop and presented an appreciation plaque to our SUAS 2026 Team Coordinator, Mehmet Ali ÜLKER.

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METE UAV in the Skies: Aerodynamic Stability and Gliding Tests!
2026-07-08

METE UAV in the Skies: Aerodynamic Stability and Gliding Tests!

During our field flight tests, we validated the aerodynamic stability, V-tail responsiveness, and wing profile performance of METE UAV across low and high-altitude passes.

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Team Field Operations and Flight Trials Continue at Full Speed!
2026-07-07

Team Field Operations and Flight Trials Continue at Full Speed!

Team Kartal Air continues full-scale field operations, flight trials, and mission scenario evaluations with METE UAV in complete team coordination.

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Pilot Proficiency and Flight Mode Transition Tests (Manual, FBWA, AUTO) Underway!
2026-07-04

Pilot Proficiency and Flight Mode Transition Tests (Manual, FBWA, AUTO) Underway!

To enhance pilot proficiency and validate emergency procedures, we are actively conducting flight trials transitioning between Manual, FBWA, and Fully Autonomous modes.

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Autonomous Flight Tests Are Being Optimized for Competition Missions!
2026-07-02

Autonomous Flight Tests Are Being Optimized for Competition Missions!

During our autonomous flight tests with METE UAV, we continue to optimize waypoint tracking, mission parameters, and telemetry streaming in alignment with competition targets.

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AI Ground Testing for METE Successfully Completed!
2026-07-01

AI Ground Testing for METE Successfully Completed!

Benchtop ground testing of our NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and TensorRT-powered YOLOv11 AI model was completed with detection confidence exceeding 80%.

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Runway Field Tests Continue for Enhanced Flight Stability!
2026-06-15

Runway Field Tests Continue for Enhanced Flight Stability!

We conducted mechanical checks and center of gravity (CG) calibrations on the runway to optimize METE UAV’s autonomous flight performance and aerodynamic stability.

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METE S-1 Takes to the Skies: First Fully Autonomous Flight Successfully Executed!
2026-06-05

METE S-1 Takes to the Skies: First Fully Autonomous Flight Successfully Executed!

Following the completion of lab and assembly phases, our METE S-1 UAV has successfully completed its initial flight tests and flawlessly executed full autonomous waypoint tracking.

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METE S-1 Showcased at the Kayseri Vocational High School Fair
2026-06-03

METE S-1 Showcased at the Kayseri Vocational High School Fair

Our METE S-1 UAV, completely manufactured and assembled within our own workshop, was showcased at the Kayseri Vocational High School Fair, drawing immense attention from visitors.

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State Protocol and Industry Leaders Visit Our Laboratory: High-Profile Briefing for METE S-1
2026-06-02

State Protocol and Industry Leaders Visit Our Laboratory: High-Profile Briefing for METE S-1

District Governor Sedat Sırrı Arısoy, District Director of National Education Hacı Kaya, and Dener Makine CEO Cemal Dener visited our R&D center to inspect our METE S-1 UAV project.

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METE S-1 Makes Its Grand Debut at the Kayseri Aviation Festival!
2026-05-17

METE S-1 Makes Its Grand Debut at the Kayseri Aviation Festival!

Following its successful assembly and structural testing phases, our METE S-1 UAV was officially introduced to thousands of tech enthusiasts and aerospace professionals at the 2nd Traditional Kayseri Aviation Festival.

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METE S-1 Main Fuselage Assembly and Testing Successfully Completed!
2026-05-17

METE S-1 Main Fuselage Assembly and Testing Successfully Completed!

All modular segments, internal frameworks, and mechanical subsystems of METE S-1 have been seamlessly integrated, passing critical load and durability tests with perfect marks.

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Precision Craftsmanship for a Powerful Tomorrow: METE S-1 Assembly Intensifies
2026-05-17

Precision Craftsmanship for a Powerful Tomorrow: METE S-1 Assembly Intensifies

In our ongoing workshop operations, the internal framework integration of METE S-1 has been finalized, shifting the focus to control surfaces and mechanical subsystems.

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First Structural Assembly Phase of METE S-1 Begins
2026-05-16

First Structural Assembly Phase of METE S-1 Begins

Following the completion of the design and slicing phases, the initial structural assembly of METE S-1's modular fuselage segments and carbon fiber framework has commenced in our workshop.

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Our "100th Year UAV" Takes the Stage at the International MEB Robot Competition Finals!
2026-05-06

Our "100th Year UAV" Takes the Stage at the International MEB Robot Competition Finals!

Our specially developed "100th Year UAV" project, dedicated to the centenary of our Republic, achieved great success by competing in the finals of the International MEB Robot Competition.

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Kartal Air in the Spotlight: UAV Projects Introduced to the Press
2026-04-29

Kartal Air in the Spotlight: UAV Projects Introduced to the Press

Following official visits to our laboratory, our METE S-1 project and international aerospace initiatives were officially presented to members of the press.

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Cultivating the Wings of the Future: Visit to Talas Şehit Yüksel Turgut Middle School
2026-04-27

Cultivating the Wings of the Future: Visit to Talas Şehit Yüksel Turgut Middle School

We organized a technical visit to Talas Şehit Yüksel Turgut Middle School to inspire younger students with aviation culture and share insights on engineering teamwork.

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Academic Visit to Our Workshop: Engineering Meetup with University Students
2026-04-23

Academic Visit to Our Workshop: Engineering Meetup with University Students

University students visited our laboratory to receive detailed insights into our METE S-1 project, advanced additive manufacturing, and autonomous aviation solutions.

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Advanced 3D Printing and Surface Optimization for METE S-1
2026-04-22

Advanced 3D Printing and Surface Optimization for METE S-1

The modular fuselage segments of METE S-1 were fabricated using advanced 3D printing protocols, ensuring aerodynamic smoothness and micron-level precision.

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Advanced Composite Integration and Airframe Reinforcement
2026-04-04

Advanced Composite Integration and Airframe Reinforcement

We shifted our focus to armoring METE's 3D-printed airframe with high-strength composite layers. Under the expert leadership of Mentor M. Talha ÇİÇEK, who brings 15 years of aircraft structural experience, we implemented Carbon Fiber and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP/GFRP) application techniques. This phase significantly increased the aircraft's G-force resilience and enhanced its radar-absorbent properties.

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Visa Application Processes and Administrative Planning
2026-03-29

Visa Application Processes and Administrative Planning

The U.S. visa application processes were officially initiated for the final stage of the competition. DS-160 forms for all team members have been meticulously completed, and visa appointments have been successfully scheduled.

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Robonation Competition Invitation Letter Procedures
2026-03-26

Robonation Competition Invitation Letter Procedures

On March 26, 2026, the official invitation letter procedures required for the international competition organized by Robonation were successfully completed. This step represents a critical phase for formalizing international participation and visa processes.

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Object Detection Performance Analysis and Video Testing
2026-03-25

Object Detection Performance Analysis and Video Testing

Object detection results were evaluated using sample test videos to measure METE's proficiency in autonomous "Search and Detect" missions. Under the guidance of Ali KORKMAZ, the model's real-time detection success and stability were rigorously analyzed.

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The AI Brain – Big Data and YOLOv11m Optimization
2026-03-23

The AI Brain – Big Data and YOLOv11m Optimization

We shifted our entire focus to the object detection and classification algorithms—the "seeing eye" of METE. Under the guidance of our Founder and Mentor, Ali KORKMAZ, we trained the YOLOv11m model using a massive dataset of 31,000 unique images. The results were outstanding, achieving a 91% mAP50 (Mean Average Precision) score. This success proves that our autonomous target detection precision meets global standards.

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SUAS 2026 Official Registration and Payment Confirmed
2026-03-12

SUAS 2026 Official Registration and Payment Confirmed

This week, we successfully completed our official team registration and preliminary application payment for the SUAS 2026 competition. With this step, our METE project is now officially recognized as a contender among elite university and high school teams worldwide.

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Team Captain Monitoring and Evaluation Process
2026-01-21

Team Captain Monitoring and Evaluation Process

A monitoring and evaluation session was conducted under the leadership of our Team Captain to review the overall progress of the project. During this process, technical objective completion rates and team coordination were meticulously examined.

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Technical Orientation for New Members
2026-01-05

Technical Orientation for New Members

A comprehensive technical training session covering the engineering fundamentals of METE was conducted for our new team members. The training detailed the aircraft's aerodynamic structure, autonomous intelligence, and airframe technology.

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Initial 3D Prototype Printing and Form Validation
2025-11-13

Initial 3D Prototype Printing and Form Validation

The first 3D trial prints of critical components designed in SolidWorks were executed. During this phase, the dimensional accuracy and fit tolerances of the digital designs were validated in the physical environment.

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Technical Design and Modeling with SolidWorks
2025-11-11

Technical Design and Modeling with SolidWorks

Critical design and optimization studies were conducted on METE's digital twin. During the SolidWorks modeling process led by Mehmet Ali ÜLKER, the aircraft's aerodynamic profile was refined, and assembly analyses of structural components were completed.

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Object Detection Dataset Development
2025-11-07

Object Detection Dataset Development

An extensive dataset creation process was conducted to enhance METE's autonomous target recognition capabilities. Under the guidance of Ali KORKMAZ, thousands of images were labeled to build a high-quality data pool aimed at increasing model accuracy.

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Progress Review and Planning Meeting
2025-11-03

Progress Review and Planning Meeting

On November 3, 2025, the KARTAL AIR team held a comprehensive consultation meeting regarding the project's current status and future objectives. During the session, completed technical phases were evaluated, and the steps for the upcoming period were finalized.

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Digital Showcase and Global Visibility – Website Development
2025-10-25

Digital Showcase and Global Visibility – Website Development

We focused on building our digital platform to showcase METE and our team's progress to the world. We designed a user-friendly, multilingual (Turkish/English) web interface fully compliant with SUAS 2026 regulations (Section 2.4). This platform is not just a promotional tool but a dynamic engineering journal where all technical phases of our project are transparently exhibited.

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SUAS 2026 Handbook Review and Strategy Analysis
2025-10-16

SUAS 2026 Handbook Review and Strategy Analysis

Under the leadership of our Team Captain, the SUAS 2026 Handbook was reviewed in detail. During the technical briefing session for team members, competition rules, scoring criteria, and autonomous mission requirements were analyzed, and our project's strategic roadmap was updated.

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Project Genesis – Bridging Innovation and Strategy
2025-10-12

Project Genesis – Bridging Innovation and Strategy

Team KARTAL AIR officially launched its SUAS 2026 campaign this week. Our focus was on a comprehensive mission analysis, establishing a high-performance team structure, and defining the core conceptual design of METE, our advanced UAV. We transitioned from theoretical ideas to a strategic roadmap, ensuring full compliance with the competition's safety and operational standards.

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