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Transatlantic Model Airplane Flight to Begin Shortly
dtmos writes "An update on this old story -- Maynard Hill's attempt to fly an 11-lb. model airplane across the Atlantic (from Newfoundland to Ireland) is due to begin tomorrow night, Newfoundland time. This would be the first transatlantic flight by a true model under FAI rules (this plane was too large to qualify). News and updates, background information, some technical info."
At the risk of sounding like a troll, there are some issues here:
1000lb is a bit more than 11lb, and in fact can be already done. That is why the military have radar, guns and missiles. The clever bit here is that this is very small. Very impressive if it makes it all that way.
What would happen to the US if a bomb did go off at the Oscars? Very little. Yes it would be a disaster/massacre of innocents, but it won't affect the economy like the twin towers attack.
This is not a useful model for any type of private cruise missile. Spy plane, maybe. Secret courier, yep. Heavy weapon, erm...nope.
Why are you using a MAX231. Doesn't that require charge pumps (Capacitors). Live a little and spend the extra $2 on a MAX233 that doesn't require the pumps. Space is a valuable commodity here.
Save some money by doing it scrapping the more expensive ATMega163 (though a great choice over the newbie PIC processors and Basic Stamps).
If you go with the AT90S-8515 you still get plenty of I/O, PWM, Serial I/O, though you'll have to hand code some A-D conversion. Maybe that's why you're going with the 163?