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