I am also new to DIY Drones, and just read this topic i liked the challenge did anyone succeed in this long distance drone flights? I want to build one also.
so what about writing an app for a cell phone that, let me see if i can put my idea into words. if a remote/controller sent IR pulses, a phones camera could pick them up (point an IR remote at the camera on your cell phone and you can see the flash when you press a button) you could write an app that picked them up, and transmitted the code across to another phone. If that phone had a IR emitter, it COULD re-generate the code from the original controller, wherever you that may be. use the gps on the phone to track it along with a camera, all transmitting from the phone. off course a little left, tell it to turn right, ir pulses transmit across phones thus transferring the original signal to turn right. I'm sure it's a pipe dream, but seems like it could be possible, The SoLong unmanned aerial vehicle from AC Propulsion recently flew over 48 hr nonstop fueled only by solar energy. The plane sports a wingspan of 4.75 m and weighs 12.6 kg.