Darnell, TylerColton Farrar, Zachary S. Kayser, Thomas O'Brien, Daniel Varner

Title:
SAE Aero Micro - Team Final Approach

Abstract:
The 2021 SAE Aero Micro capstone team was tasked with designing a micro airplane that meets several design requirements such as limiting the wingspan to 48", utilizing a 450W power limiter, and being able to launch the airplane off an 8 foot elevated runway. This competition is intended to simulate the real-world issue where engineers have to make trades between carrying the highest payload while also pursuing the lightest aircraft design. After dedicating the Fall 2020 semester to designing the airplane from the ground up in SolidWorks and computing several computational analyses, the team was able to begin construction on the plane in the Spring 2021 semester. While utilizing the tools and workspace of the Flagstaff Flyers (a local RC airplane hobbyist group), the team was able to successfully design and construct a functioning airplane on the first attempt. The airplane was constructed with a majority of the components being laser cut foam board and balsa wood due to their light weight and relatively strong material characteristics. In order to assist future SAE Aero capstone groups, the team is also designing a lift/drag test stand that can be secured on top of a vehicle to measure the forces the airfoil experiences. This test stand simulates flight and utilizes several components such as a low-friction sliding track and spring scales to allow the team to record the forces being exerted on the airfoil.

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