Airplane Float

Problem

First attempts had little design. The team built, tried, assumed too heavy, made lighter. No design, no measurement of weight, no computation and physical location of center of mass, no theory of flight, no testing of lift.

Conceive

• Build an airplane to compete in a Free flight competition.
• video of competition

Design

Actually design the airplane on a computer with drawing software using some established technique.

Photos of Design Attempt

Making of the Airplane Air Plane Floating Finishing the plane Putting everything together Proppelar of the airplane Front Wing Wood being soaked to make it flexible working on front wing 2 working on the back wing Propellar with a rubber band Top view of what is build so far Porcelain Film Complete view of the front wing Another view of the front wing Porcelain film being put on the wing Top view of the wing with porcelain film Top view of all the parts completed starting on the propeller Putting on the plastic Making of the Propeller finishing the propeller ] creating an angle for propeller sides Putting the film on the side of the propeller Both sides of the propeller Wings being attached to the body of the airplane Another view of wings attached to the body Another view of wings attached with the body Bottom view of the airplane Coils attached for propeller coils used to attach the propeller Airplane testing 1 cresting styrofoam propeller 1 sanding the half of propeller two halves of styrofoam propeller creating an angle of styrofoam propeller 3 Airplane final testing Attaching the base Cutting First propeller

Test lift (video on lift theory) using the air handling system within a building big rigging a balance similar to the Wright brothers from the ceiling.

Implement

Build the airplane designed. Compute expected lift versus actual lift. Build a wind tunnel if necessary. Build apparatus to measure lift. Compare measured versus the computed center of gravity. Build apparatus to judge time, take pictures.

Supplier specializing in Free Flight kits using rubber instead of bands.

Choose to build airplanes individually and compete against one another or split up building parts of a single designed airplane, build separately, assembly together.

Used hair dryer to shrink plastic wrap.

Operate

Figure out the rules of a free flight competition. Create a mini competition and run it. Figure out the minimal competition that could be staged in 15 minutes or 2 hours for various audiences (K-12), engineering seminar.

Demo

presentation

Next Steps

• Design in 3D CAD software
• Build many models
• Build balance to check lift
• Structure a competition, figure out how to make a sanctioned competition
• Test various model designs to the point that can predict performance