Project 1.2.

11a Glider Design Challenge Report

Student Name: Michael Wooten
In Project 1.2.10 Glider Design Challenge One, you designed a stable glider. In this project,
you are going to expand your knowledge through more advanced skills while refining your
glider design. This is an importance design step of refining and testing a design to improve
your design concept.

Glider Design
Describe the information that you entered into the AERY software.

While using the AERY software I input all of the constraints into the simulator so that I
could see how large my plane can be. After the constraints were set I would input new
values according to the recommendations that AERY gives. The main values I would
input were for the vertical tail, stabilizer, and wings. For the vertical I was focused on
increasing the area of the tail by increasing the height and root chord. I modified the
stabilizers span and sweep angle to alter its shape and provide the plane a more stable
flight. When designing the planes wings I either reduced the wing span or moved the
wings across the fuselage to balance the center of gravity.

Benefits of Computer Based Models

Describe the information that the AERY software provides. Describe how you would
compute the same information using your knowledge of Aerospace engineering and a
calculator.

The AERY provides the surface area of the plane parts which can be calculated using
the 2D measurements of each surface. The software also provides the center of gravity
on the aircraft, and it can be found by calculating the weight of each component and
their distance from the datum. After finding the values, the weight and distance are
multiplied then the products are added together so the total moment can be divided by
the total weight to output a measurement of the datums distance to the center of gravity.
Another value that AERY calculates automatically is the wing loading which can be found
simply by dividing the gliders loaded mass by the area of the wing.
Glider Construction
Based on what you have learned, describe additional skills and knowledge essential for
transforming a glider design into an actual model.

To transfer the glider design into a constructed model one must have an understanding
of the blueprints and knowledge to read the designs. The builder must be familiar with
vocabulary terms used with the glider so they do not cut or measure pieces incorrectly.
When building the plane one must also remember that the style or technique of cutting
can determine the planes reliability, and the builder needs to be able to cut with a steady
hand and be careful to not mess up the glider. The builder will also need to keep in mind
that small human errors are bound to occur and all planes cannot be perfect.

Glider Design Prints

Attach AERY glider design software prints from the two challenges.