Glider Project Challenge 1:
|
What changed from the design requirements?
Main: Fuselage Length (cm): 30 Wing Location (cm): 13 Stabilizer Location (cm): 0 Vertical Tail Location (cm): 22 Nose Mass (g): 8 Wing: Span (cm): 50 Root Chord (cm): 10 Taper Ratio: 0.58 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 0 Velocity (km/hr): 20 Stabilizer: Span (cm): 25 Root Chord (cm): 8 Taper Ratio: 0.60 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 15 Vertical Tail: Height (cm): 10 Root Chord (cm): 8 Taper Ratio: 0.70 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 15 |
Conclusion
1) Explain differences between your glider's performance through flight-testing that was unexpected based on the AERY software predicted flight characteristics.
I think that the difference between the glider simulation and real life was that the simulation was a perfect glider with no flaws flying a 20km/hr. While in real life it was a glider with some flaws and flying at only 2 or 3 km/hr due to throwing the plane. |
2) Based on the entire flight test data, from every group, explain conclusion that you can make about optimal glider designs for long distance flight. I could improve the placement of the nose mass to help increase stability of the plane as well as increase the wing area to help with the lift of the glider. I could also attempt to through it faster with a launcher to help the glider get up to its designated 20km/hr gliding speed.
1) Was the glider as stable as you expected? Why or why not might this be so?
The glider was more stable than I expected since the design planes were based off of the glider going out 20km/hr which didn't occur during the test flights. I think it's because of the large wing area that the glider had to help with the lift at low speeds. 2) What techniques did you use to trim the glider for straight and gently descending flight?
I sanded down one edge of the wing to help remove some weight off one side that would turn more then the other when it would fly. 3) How many test flights were required to get the glider trimmed for long distance, straight line flight? Was this expected? Why or why not?
The 2nd flight was the longest time the glider flew so based on what I said earlier about the glider being designed to glide at 20km/he I was quite surprised it was able to go 48 ft on the second time it flew. |
1) Explain which glider or aircraft term were difficult to understand and the correct definition.
A difficult aircraft term for me to understand would be the Vertical Stabilizer since based on the name, one would assume that the Vertical Stabilizer stabilizes the vertical axis of the aircraft, but actually, what I found out, is that the Vertical Stabilizer, stabilizes the aircraft on the horizontal axis.
A difficult aircraft term for me to understand would be the Vertical Stabilizer since based on the name, one would assume that the Vertical Stabilizer stabilizes the vertical axis of the aircraft, but actually, what I found out, is that the Vertical Stabilizer, stabilizes the aircraft on the horizontal axis.
2) Explain any challenges if someone else were to construct your design using the AERY print.
The hardest challenge faced in recreating the design is getting the wing, stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer into the correct positions of the aircraft. Being that the wings and stabilizers are in flipped positions of what they would normally be in.
The hardest challenge faced in recreating the design is getting the wing, stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer into the correct positions of the aircraft. Being that the wings and stabilizers are in flipped positions of what they would normally be in.
3) Explain any challenges faced using the AERY software and how you overcame those challenges.
The hardest part in using the AERY software is getting the glider to have the correct center of gravity, since until you get the general idea of where the center is, you have to constantly guess and check different configurations of options for your glider.
The hardest part in using the AERY software is getting the glider to have the correct center of gravity, since until you get the general idea of where the center is, you have to constantly guess and check different configurations of options for your glider.
Glider Project Challenge 2:
What is the design specifications of this glider?
Main:
Fuselage Length (cm): 30 Wing Location (cm): 15 Stabilizer Location (cm): 0 Vertical Tail Location (cm): 22 Nose Mass (g): 2.56 Wing: Span (cm): 25 Root Chord (cm): 10 Taper Ratio: 0.40 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 10 Velocity (km/hr): 20 Stabilizer: Span (cm): 10 Root Chord (cm): 5 Taper Ratio: 0.75 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 30 Vertical Tail: Height (cm): 8 Root Chord (cm): 5 Taper Ratio: 0.75 Leading Edge Sweep Angle: 0 |
Conclusion:
1) Explain difficulties faced with this second design challenge compared with the first challenge.
The most difficult part of creating this design with the give restrictions, was trying to get the vertical tail to pass inspection, due to it being either to for forward and having to be moved back or having to little area and needing a increase in the area, which is not possible due to design restrictions.
2) Explain how these constraints impacted your glider design compared to the first.
These constraints caused my glider to look similar to my previous glider but it was a more compacted design with the wings, stabilizer, and vertical tail being smaller then what it would be normally.
The most difficult part of creating this design with the give restrictions, was trying to get the vertical tail to pass inspection, due to it being either to for forward and having to be moved back or having to little area and needing a increase in the area, which is not possible due to design restrictions.
2) Explain how these constraints impacted your glider design compared to the first.
These constraints caused my glider to look similar to my previous glider but it was a more compacted design with the wings, stabilizer, and vertical tail being smaller then what it would be normally.
GLIDER PROJECT: THE FINAL CHALLENGE
Was I able to achieve at least 50 feet of flight with the designed glider?
Unfortunately, I was unable to achieve 50 feet of flight, I was able to get up to 48 but the glider would begin to turn around 40 feet of flight and would therefore run into a wall.
Unfortunately, I was unable to achieve 50 feet of flight, I was able to get up to 48 but the glider would begin to turn around 40 feet of flight and would therefore run into a wall.