[DRAFT] S24 Fixed Wing Project Proposal
Objective
The objective of the fixed-wing program would be to allow the mechanical team to get experience designing and building fixed-wing aircraft to better prepare us for an eventual VTOL aircraft. This program would also allow other subteams to gain experience in supporting fixed-wing aircraft (EE, EFS, Auto).
Summary
The fixed-wing program would consist of the design of an inexpensive modular airframe that allows for various wing and fuselage shapes to be swapped out to test flight characteristics. Various combinations would be tested both in simulation and in real life to allow mechanical team to observe what the differences in simulation values mean in the real world.
Support
This program would require the support of other subteams to:
Determine what control, power, and propulsion systems we should use
Harness the airframe(s)
Program/fly the airframes
Timeline
Mid-June: decided what control system to use, weight constraints, target size + prelim airframe ideas
End of June: Main frame design + wing and fuselage shape ideas
Mid July: End of July: Wings + frame integrated
End of July: Sims run, manufacturing,
Mid August: First flights