Hi FT World,
I am a high school engineering teacher. I wanted to introduce my students to the world of RC planes and all of its engineering challenges. I was very excited to look into FT STEM's materials, but I have found them all to be, well, unusable. They seem like they were written as reminders for the teacher who had developed them, not to be used by other teachers. There just isn't enough detail--I need something else.
So I'm reaching out to the community! My goal for the class is to get my students to design their own plane and get it in the air. They will be starting from nearly scratch, though they are trained in AutoCAD and OnShape (SolidWorks equivalent). I thought I would structure the unit like this:
1. Teach basic concepts of aerodynamics, like lift and thrust/weight ratios, etc. Maybe take two or three days with it is all, giving them basic design principles.
2. Have them construct a FT plane kit with all of the components to build a working plane and get it in the air. This would show them what the guts of a working plane needs, what good wing area to weight ratios are, etc. Also gives them flying experience.
2. Attempt to design their own plane from scratch, starting with a glider. Let them tweak/replace/repair, to their hearts' content until it flies decently.
3. Let them carve out their glider and install motors, servos, etc, and get it into the air.
I have all semester to do it, and I think it's a feasible amount of time. My current hurdles:
1. I need a source material for the aerodynamics principles. I've been trying to find some good sources to help me find the appropriate thrust/weight ratios, wing area formulae, etc. but it's hard. I'm a very fast study (MS in engineering, former NASA employee...I can handle it) if I can just find the right source info. Anyone know any or have any good design principles?
2. I need to know how much foam board to buy. I have 9 students. I'll get the glue guns and other materials just fine, but I am not sure how much foam board goes into a plane. I'm pretty new but learning fast.
3. Any tips, or wisdom you can share with me as I begin my own journey into RC planes with my students?
Thanks,
Alex
I am a high school engineering teacher. I wanted to introduce my students to the world of RC planes and all of its engineering challenges. I was very excited to look into FT STEM's materials, but I have found them all to be, well, unusable. They seem like they were written as reminders for the teacher who had developed them, not to be used by other teachers. There just isn't enough detail--I need something else.
So I'm reaching out to the community! My goal for the class is to get my students to design their own plane and get it in the air. They will be starting from nearly scratch, though they are trained in AutoCAD and OnShape (SolidWorks equivalent). I thought I would structure the unit like this:
1. Teach basic concepts of aerodynamics, like lift and thrust/weight ratios, etc. Maybe take two or three days with it is all, giving them basic design principles.
2. Have them construct a FT plane kit with all of the components to build a working plane and get it in the air. This would show them what the guts of a working plane needs, what good wing area to weight ratios are, etc. Also gives them flying experience.
2. Attempt to design their own plane from scratch, starting with a glider. Let them tweak/replace/repair, to their hearts' content until it flies decently.
3. Let them carve out their glider and install motors, servos, etc, and get it into the air.
I have all semester to do it, and I think it's a feasible amount of time. My current hurdles:
1. I need a source material for the aerodynamics principles. I've been trying to find some good sources to help me find the appropriate thrust/weight ratios, wing area formulae, etc. but it's hard. I'm a very fast study (MS in engineering, former NASA employee...I can handle it) if I can just find the right source info. Anyone know any or have any good design principles?
2. I need to know how much foam board to buy. I have 9 students. I'll get the glue guns and other materials just fine, but I am not sure how much foam board goes into a plane. I'm pretty new but learning fast.
3. Any tips, or wisdom you can share with me as I begin my own journey into RC planes with my students?
Thanks,
Alex