Has anybody eve used a wing tunnel to design a rc plane?

[LukeJ]

Has anybody ever used a wind tunnel to design the airfoil/wing to a rc plane? Do you use a computer program to see how your wing will generate lift?

 

[Monte.C]

Has anybody ever used a wind tunnel to design the airfoil/wing to a rc plane? Do you use a computer program to see how your wing will generate lift?

Hey Luke that would be pretty awesome. It would answer a lot of questions. If you do be sure to post the results.

 

[danskis]

I'm sure NASA has.....the Wright brothers used one to test airfoils

 

[JasonK]

hahaha... I figured the question meant, has anyone that frequents the boards done that... because clearly most aeronautical development companies have.

 

[LitterBug]

Somebody needs to design a FT Wind tunnel! Made of foam board of course¡

 

[Piotrsko]

The airfoil programs do a decent job of predicting how it will fly, but may not replicate what happens in a wind tunnel due to our stuff generally sits smack dab middle of the transition part of Reynolds numbers where predicting accurate results are undefined.

If you restrict your data collection to lift, drag, and stall angle wind tunnels are just fine.

 

[LukeJ]

So if I was to create my own plane from my own design how would I go about designing how the wing looks and everything else?

 

[JasonK]

So if I was to create my own plane from my own design how would I go about designing how the wing looks and everything else?

What are you trying to design?
you start with the general idea, then you try different ideas to get to that design.

for example you can get a whole list of airfoil shapes
-> http://airfoiltools.com/search/index
you can get a suggested CG calculator
-> https://www.ecalc.ch/cgcalc.php
prop thrust calculations
-> https://www.flitetest.com/articles/propeller-static-dynamic-thrust-calculation
aircraft design 'basics'
-> https://www.flitetest.com/articles/easy-aircraft-design
-> https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/determining-control-surface-area.62991/#post-565944

lots of stuff out there like that to look at.

 

[LukeJ]

im trying to design a propeller plane (not that big) so i can get into a competition where we design an edf plane and see whos the best.

 

[LukeJ]

Those links helped so much thanks

 

[LukeJ]

any other artcles that can help me? Im trying to making a rc plane with 1 engine (prop not edf) than can hold like 2 legos for the competition. I'm trying to decide where the wings should be and all that. Im just so overwhlemed I dont know where to start

 

[JasonK]

@LukeJ - any reason to not just use one of the already existing designs?
what exactly do you need to carry? 2 legos? that sounds like basically nothing weight wise. some more specifics perhaps?

you can get by with a 'stick' with a wing, tail fins, motor, and control surfaces as long as you get the CG correct, use a viable airfoil and appropriately sized engine.

if you haven't made anything yet, I would suggest starting with something like the FT Tiny Trainer.

 

[LukeJ]

Ive made some trainers before a long time ago, I just need something myself.

The competition all it states is I need one propeller, enough space in the front for two lego minifguers, 3 control surfaces (aielrons rudder elevator) and thats it

The reason I need help is I don't know where to start in the first place? Do I draw a shape then use the article you linked to figure out weight and sizing?

 

[JasonK]

I have build logs for 2 planes I have built and finished, maybe one of those could give you some ideas on how to go about it.
(look in my signature for V-Tail Stick and A-Tail Pusher)

however, I would suggest using a traditional tail shape, unless you have specific reason to do something more complicated.

 

[LukeJ]

Hmm thanks