My first post! And unfortunately I'm in a bit of a bind...

Here it is. For a uni project we've got to design, build and then fly an RC aircraft. It is a group of 6 and none of us have any experience in this at all. So basically I really need some good links i could read on how to scratch design & build airfoils and generally how to design an aircraft as a whole... Calculations, design, construction basically the whole thing :-(

There are specs we have to stick to. We have been supplied a 10cc engine and a 4 channel radio controller. Plenty of servos that have a little rotating bit too. The aircraft has to be a blended wing/body design which can be a flying wing, tailed, tailess or cannard design. It has to carry a payload of 4 x 400 gram gravy packets which measure 180 x 130 x 40mm. The aspect ratio must be greater than 2. The MTOW is 1.6kg... ???

This has to be able to fly a course with some manouvering but nothing really fancy. Just a few 90 degree turns, one 180 degree turn and a 360 degree loop. All in a flat horizontal plane. It must also take off and land.

This is all details from the assignment sheet we've been given... The MTOW is clearly wrong unless we tape the gravy packets together and hurl them... Hrmm. I'll have to look into that.

We have no idea really where to start. We don't even know what size we are aiming for with the MTOW (yet to be confirmed) and engine sizes.

Unfortunately we cannot warm up to the task with any kits, gliders or anything! We basically have to launch ourselves into this quite blindly... And it has to be done within about three months. So I really need some help obviously. Any advice, links, anything at all will be greatly appreciated!

Anyone that can help out, thanks heaps

Cheers
-Tron

Is this a school project? I have seen it done with students with experience, but to throw 6 into designing something like this and then flying it with no experience is really dumb. You may get it designed, but will crash it trying to fly it for sure. Takes most newbies 3 months to build a kit, let alone design and scratch it. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, you might just put a blurb on the scratch built forum and get some of the guys that are really good at design to help you. There are some great ones on there.

I scratch build, but I don't play with design a ton, at least not the whole bird. I have a friend that does, but he doesn't have a computer.

Check out the scratch forum and see if that helps. Sorry I couldn't give you more help.

Well yes it is kinda stupid... It is also a damn huge task...

It is for a 3rd year subject in an Aerospace Engineering degree, "propulsion systems"

We have got an ancient, and very basic plane that we are re-attaching engines and servos to, hoping to get some idea on how to fly with that before we put whatever we build into the air... So hopefully crashes won't be as fequent... We'll see.

Anyhow I'll have a go at the scratch forum but I'll keep an eye on this thread too... Anyone who can help please keep posting here too!

Cheers
-Tron

this won't save you but might help, Download a free flight sim so if it flies you will be able to control it better in the air, There is also plans somewhere on this site to make a wire that you can connect the radio to your computer for little money. http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

Best of luck
Dauntae

Being in your third year, you should have a good concept of flight and powers systems. Your instructor is forcing you to think out of the box and build with what you have learned.

Kinda like Junkyard Wars for college students.

I know students from Texas A&M and Embery Riddle who have participated in a yearly event like the one you are doing. I'm trying to remember who to contact since it's been a few years since I was in contact with this event. Did you check the AMA website for contacts to Universities?

I had to do a project like this, but involving a rocket capable of carrying a satellite. It had to go to a determined altitude, deploy, and the satellite had to take telemetric measurements and transmit them back to our base. None of us knew nothing about satellites and this was way beyond what Estes made and only had one semester to do it in. We did it.

Check the design forum for CAD software. There hes been some great links there for free software for designing airfoils. Be sure to ask any specific questions in that forum, it's been a great forum for me.

Many of our designs started on scratch paper, then modeled using, at that time, ProModeler. Your team should be diversified, who has the mechanical background? Who is good with electronics? Who is good at video games (since somebody has to fly it)? Who is good at drawing plans? Who has contacts with modelers? Get together, grab some pizzas, and brainstorm.

Welcome to the field of engineering. Don't let the nay sayers get to you. I am working a project design at work that I have never done before and they want it done yesterday, work flawlessly, and be under budget.

Ok, MTOW = Min or Max?? are you allowed out side help?
I'm just Past Cranbourne so if you want to come around i'd be glad to show you my scratch built/designed planes and give you some pointers.
check this out for probably the easiest scratch designed/built delta around
http://www.mugi.co.uk

or something like

or http://www.spadtothebone.com/showcase11.jpg

http://www.spadtothebone.com/showcase44.jpg

or a canard http://www.spadtothebone.com/showcase84.jpg

info on these planes and more are at http://www.spadtothebone.com

I'd be willing to give you guys a hand as well!. I'm in Bendigo, about 150kms North-west of Melbourne in Central Vic. I'm a 3rd year Arts Student at La Trobe, Bendigo, and can vouch that you guys aren't from here! We sure don't get anything THAT exciting round here lol!

What uni are you hailing from?

Its gonna need to be on heck of an aircraft to haul that weight! 1.6KGs is a fair amount of ballast to be accounted for on an aircraft!.

I guess i should also mention that i've been flying/designing RC Aircraft for 5 years so thums my credentials!

Shoot me a line at [email protected] if ya like!

I have the rough idea of a plane that may serve some purpose in the assignment, i'll see if i can find some pics of it around the place. Definately take a look at Woodsy's MUGI link, i think its a good place to start!

Til then...
CIAO!

Did some searching for you mate, i've come up with a few odds and ends that might get u salivating, or laughing at me..either of the two!....

http://www.rccombat.com/forum_2000/t...archTerms=Mugi

Read that link, the pics are missing, but i think its a start all the same.

http://spadworld.net/viewtopic.php?t...highlight=mugi

Thats a similar plane to the size/weight/power you would need.

http://www.rccombat.com/forum_2000/t...archTerms=Mugi

That about sums me up for now....happy reading

I would take Woodsy or Godfather up on their offers, they are genuine I assure you.