The Wright Brothers As Design Engineers
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Tethered Fixed-Wing Aircraft to Lift Payloads…
Tethered Fixed-Wing Aircraft to Lift Payloads: A Concept Enabled by Electric Propulsion David Rancourt Etienne Demers Bouchard Université de Sherbrooke Georgia Institute of Technology 3000 boul. Université – Pavillon P2 275 Ferst Drive NW Sherbrooke, QC Atlanta, GA CANADA USA [email protected] [email protected] Keywords: Electric propulsion, novel aircraft concept, VTOL, hybrid-electric powertrain ABSTRACT Helicopters have been essential to the military as they have been one of the only solutions for air-transporting substantial payloads with no need for complex mile-long runway infrastructures. However, they are fundamentally limited with high fuel consumption and reduced range. A disruptive concept to vertical lift uses tethered fixed-wing aircraft to lift a payload, where multiple aircraft collaborate and fly along a near circular flight path in hover. The Electric-Powered Reconfigurable Rotor concept (EPR2) leverages the recent progress in electric propulsion and modern controls to enable efficient load lifting using fixed-wing aircraft. The novel idea is to replace tethered manned aircraft (with onboard energy, fuel) with electric-powered fixed-wing aircraft with remote energy source to enable efficient collaborative load lifting. This paper presents the conceptual design of a heavy-lifting aircraft concept using electric-powered tethered fixed-wing aircraft for a ~30 metric ton lifting capability. A physics-based multidisciplinary design and simulation environment is used to predict the performance and optimize the aircraft flight path. It is demonstrated that this concept could hover with only 3.01 MW of power yet be able to translate to over 80 kts with minimal power increase by leveraging the benefits of complex non-circular flight paths. -
History of Solar Flight July 2008
History of Solar Flight July 2008 solar airplane aircraft continuous sustainable flight solar-powered solar cells mppt helios Sky-Sailor sun-powered HALE platform solaire avion vol continu dévelopement durable énergie solaire cellules plateforme History of Solar flight André Noth, [email protected] Autonomous Systems Lab, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich 1. The conjunction of two pioneer fields, electric flight and solar cells The use of electric power for flight vehicles propulsion is not new. The first one was the hydrogen- filled dirigible France in year 1884 that won a 10 km race around Villacoulbay and Medon. At this time, the electric system was superior to its only rival, the steam engine but then with the arrival of gasoline engines, work on electrical propulsion for air vehicles was abandoned and the field lay dormant for almost a century [2]. On the 30th June 1957, Colonel H. J. Taplin of the United Kingdom made the first officially recorded electric powered radio controlled flight with his model “Radio Queen”, which used a permanent-magnet motor and a silver-zinc battery. Unfortunately, he didn’t carry on these experiments. Further developments in the field came from the great German pioneer, Fred Militky, who first achieved a successful flight with a Radio Queen, 1957 free flight model in October 1957. Since this premises, electric flight continuously evolved with constant improvements in the fields of motors and batteries [12]. Three years before Taplin and Militky’s experiments, in 1954, photovoltaic technology was born at Bell Telephone Laboratories. Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson developed the first silicon photovoltaic cell capable of converting enough of the sun’s energy into power to run everyday electrical Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin equipment. -
Air-Breathing Engine Precooler Achieves Record-Breaking Mach 5 Performance 23 October 2019
Air-breathing engine precooler achieves record-breaking Mach 5 performance 23 October 2019 The Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) is uniquely designed to scoop up atmospheric air during the initial part of its ascent to space at up to five times the speed of sound. At about 25 km it would then switch to pure rocket mode for its final climb to orbit. In future SABRE could serve as the basis of a reusable launch vehicle that operates like an aircraft. Because the initial flight to Mach 5 uses the atmospheric air as one propellant it would carry much less heavy liquid oxygen on board. Such a system could deliver the same payload to orbit with a vehicle half the mass of current launchers, potentially offering a large reduction in cost and a higher launch rate. Reaction Engines' specially constructed facility at the Colorado Air and Space Port in the US, used for testing the innovative precooler of its air-breathing SABRE engine. Credit: Reaction Engines Ltd UK company Reaction Engines has tested its innovative precooler at airflow temperature conditions equivalent to Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. This achievement marks a significant milestone in its ESA-supported Airflow through the precooler test item in the HTX heat exchanger test programme. UK company Reaction development of the air-breathing SABRE engine, Engines has tested its innovative precooler at airflow paving the way for a revolution in space access temperature conditions equivalent to Mach 5, or five and hypersonic flight. times the speed of sound. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the ESA-supported development The precooler heat exchanger is an essential of its air-breathing SABRE engine, paving the way for a SABRE element that cools the hot airstream revolution in hypersonic flight and space access. -
Design of a Micro-Aircraft Glider
Design of A Micro-Aircraft Glider Major Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Degree of Bachelor of Science Submitted by: ______________________ ______________________ Zaki Akhtar Ryan Fredette ___________________ ___________________ Phil O’Sullivan Daniel Rosado Approved by: ______________________ _____________________ Professor David Olinger Professor Simon Evans 2 Certain materials are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use. 3 Abstract The goal of this project was to design an aircraft to compete in the micro-class of the 2013 SAE Aero Design West competition. The competition scores are based on empty weight and payload fraction. The team chose to construct a glider, which reduces empty weight by not employing a propulsion system. Thus, a launching system was designed to launch the micro- aircraft to a sufficient height to allow the aircraft to complete the required flight by gliding. The rules state that all parts of the aircraft and launcher must be contained in a 24” x 18” x 8” box. This glider concept was unique because the team implemented fabric wings to save substantial weight and integrated the launcher into the box to allow as much space as possible for the aircraft components. The empty weight of the aircraft is 0.35 lb, while also carrying a payload weight of about 0.35 lb. Ultimately, the aircraft was not able to complete the required flight because the team achieved 50% of its desired altitude during tests. -
Aircraft Collection
A, AIR & SPA ID SE CE MU REP SEU INT M AIRCRAFT COLLECTION From the Avenger torpedo bomber, a stalwart from Intrepid’s World War II service, to the A-12, the spy plane from the Cold War, this collection reflects some of the GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN MILITARY AVIATION. Photo: Liam Marshall TABLE OF CONTENTS Bombers / Attack Fighters Multirole Helicopters Reconnaissance / Surveillance Trainers OV-101 Enterprise Concorde Aircraft Restoration Hangar Photo: Liam Marshall BOMBERS/ATTACK The basic mission of the aircraft carrier is to project the U.S. Navy’s military strength far beyond our shores. These warships are primarily deployed to deter aggression and protect American strategic interests. Should deterrence fail, the carrier’s bombers and attack aircraft engage in vital operations to support other forces. The collection includes the 1940-designed Grumman TBM Avenger of World War II. Also on display is the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, a true workhorse of the 1950s and ‘60s, as well as the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and Grumman A-6 Intruder, stalwarts of the Vietnam War. Photo: Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum GRUMMAN / EASTERNGRUMMAN AIRCRAFT AVENGER TBM-3E GRUMMAN/EASTERN AIRCRAFT TBM-3E AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBER First flown in 1941 and introduced operationally in June 1942, the Avenger became the U.S. Navy’s standard torpedo bomber throughout World War II, with more than 9,836 constructed. Originally built as the TBF by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, they were affectionately nicknamed “Turkeys” for their somewhat ungainly appearance. Bomber Torpedo In 1943 Grumman was tasked to build the F6F Hellcat fighter for the Navy. -
The Wright Stuff
1203cent.qxd 11/13/03 2:19 PM Page 1 n a chilly North Carolina edge. It is likely that this informa- Omorning 100 years ago, two tion became the basis for the design brothers from Dayton, Ohio, at- of their early gliders. It also led them tempted a feat others considered im- to contact Octave Chanute, an possible, and their success changed American engineer who was the world. leading the way for experiments in Today we take air travel for aeronautics. granted, and rarely give a second thought to our capability to fly liter- Three problems ally anywhere in the world. But one The Wrights realized from the be- hundred years ago, the endeavors ginning that they had to solve three of the Wrights and other aeronau- problems: tical pioneers were widely viewed • Balance and control. as foolhardy. Although some of the THE WRIGHT • Wing shape and resulting lift. world’s most creative minds were • Application of power to the converging on a solution to the flight structure. problem, well-respected scientists STUFF: Of the three, they correctly recog- such as Lord Kelvin thought flight Materials in the Wright Flyer nized that balance and control were impossible. the least understood and probably In fact, Simon Newcomb, pro- The flight of the Wright Flyer was the most critical. To solve that fessor of mathematics and as- the “first in the history of the world problem, they turned to gliding ex- tronomy at Johns Hopkins Univer- periments. sity and vice-president of the in which a machine carrying a man National Academy of Sciences, had had raised itself by its own power The 1900 glider declared only 18 months before the into the air in full flight, had sailed After a few preliminary experi- successful flight at Kitty Hawk, forward without reduction of speed, ments with small kites, they built “Flight by machines heavier than air and had finally landed at a point as their first glider in 1900. -
The Design and Development of a Human-Powered
THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A HUMAN-POWERED AIRPLANE A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate Division "by James Marion McAvoy^ Jr. In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology June _, 1963 A/ :o TEE DESIGN AND DETERMENT OF A HUMAN-POWERED AIRPLANE Approved: Pate Approved "by Chairman: M(Ly Z7. /q£3 In presenting the dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, I agree that the Library of the Institution shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to copy from, or to publish from, this dissertation may he granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, or, in his absence, by the dean of the Graduate Division when such copying or publication is solely for scholarly purposes and does not involve potential financial gain. It is under stood that any copying from, or publication of, this disser tation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without written permission. i "J-lW* 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to express his most sincere appreciation to Pro fessor John J, Harper for acting as thesis advisor, and for his ready ad vice at all times. Thanks are due also to Doctor Rohin B. Gray and Doctor Thomas W. Jackson for serving on the reading committee and for their help and ad vice . Gratitude is also extended to,all those people who aided in the construction of the MPA and to those who provided moral and physical sup port for the project. -
Thrust and Power Available, Maximum and Minimum Cruise Velocity, Effects of Altitude on Power Thrust Available
Module-2 Lecture-7 Cruise Flight - Thrust and Power available, Maximum and minimum cruise velocity, Effects of altitude on power Thrust available • As we have seen earlier, thrust and power requirements are dictated by the aero- dynamic characteristics and weight of the airplane. In contrast, thrust and power available are strictly associated with the engine of the aircraft. • The thrust delivered by typical reciprocating piston engines used in aircraft with propellers varies with velocity as shown in Figure 1(a). • It should be noted that the thrust at zero velocity (static thrust) is maximum and it decreases with increase in forward velocity. The reason for this behavior is that the blade tip of the propellers encounter compressibility problems leading to abrupt decrease in the available thrust near speed of sound. • However, as seen from Figure 1(b), the thrust delivered by a turbojet engine stays relatively constant with increase in velocity. Figure 1: Variation in available thrust with velocity of the (a) reciprocating engine- propeller powered aircraft and (b) turbojet engine powered aircraft 1 Power Power required for any aircraft is a characteristic of the aerodynamic design and weight of that aircraft. However, the power available, PA is a characteristic of the power plant (engine) of the aircraft. Typically, a piston engine generates power by burning fuel in the cylinders and then using this energy to move pistons in a reciprocating fashion (Figure 2). The power delivered to the piston driven propeller engine by the crankshaft is termed Figure 2: Schematic of a reciprocating engine as the shaft brake power P . -
The Wright Brothers Played with As Small Boys
1878 1892 The Flying Toy: A small toy “helicopter”— made of wood with two twisted rubber bands to turn a small propeller—that the Wright brothers played with as small boys. The Bicycle Business: The Wright brothers opened a bicycle store in 1892. Their 1900 experience with bicycles aided them in their The Wright Way: investigations of flight. The Process of Invention The Search for Control: From their observations of how buzzards kept their balance, the Wright brothers began their aeronautical research in 1899 with a kite/glider. In 1900, they built their first glider designed to carry a pilot. Wilbur and Orville Wright Inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright placed their names firmly in the hall of great 1901 American inventors with the creation of the world’s first successful powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight Ohio with a pilot aboard. The age of powered flight began with the Wright 1903 Flyer on December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills, NC. The Wright brothers began serious experimentation in aeronautics in 1899 and perfected a controllable craft by 1905. In six years, the Wrights had used remarkable creativity and originality to provide technical solutions, practical mechanical Birthplace design tools, and essential components that resulted in a profitable aircraft. They did much more than simply get a flying machine off the ground. They established the fundamental principles of aircraft design and engineering in place today. In 1908 and 1909, they demonstrated their flying machine pub- licly in the United States and Europe. By 1910, the Wright Company was of Aviation manufacturing airplanes for sale. -
Restoration, Preservation, and Conservation of the 1905 Wright Flyer III
Jeanne Palermo Restoration, Preservation, and Conservation of the 1905 Wright Flyer III he 1905 Wright Flyer III at museum village which he proceeded to build and Carillon Historical Park in endow. A major theme of the museum would be Dayton, Ohio, is one of the most transportation: how it changed Dayton, and how significant aircraft in the history Dayton changed transportation. Deeds’ desire to of aviation.T This relatively unknown airplane is include a Wright airplane in his museum led to called the world’s first practical airplane because, the restoration of the 1905 Wright Flyer III. with this aircraft, the Wright brothers solved all Initially, Deeds expected to construct a the remaining problems of sustained and con- replica of the 1903 “Kitty Hawk” Flyer. It was trolled flight. The 1905 Wright Flyer III is also the Orville Wright who felt that enough parts of the first plane ever to carry a passenger. 1905 machine existed to do a restoration. Wright History himself was in possession of the engine, propellers, Following their first flights at Kitty Hawk, and metal chain guides that the Wrights had North Carolina, in December 1903, Wilbur and brought back to their shop in Dayton. The frame Orville Wright returned home to Dayton for had been left in a shed at Kitty Hawk following Christmas knowing that, while they had suc- the plane’s final flights in 1908. That May, the ceeded in their dream of flying, much work plane had been refitted from its original configu- remained to make flying practical. The 1903 ration with a pilot prone on the lower wing, to Wright Flyer flew four relatively short, straight- two upright seats for a pilot and passenger. -
On the Wright Brothers' Flight Path
Discovery Guide Propellers Elevators in the back in the front Be a “Plane Clothes” Detective On the Wright brothers’ Rudder Wings Flight Path Did you know that? ★ All the Wright airplanes are ★ The 1909 Wright Military Flyer covered with cotton fabric called was flight tested at Fort Myer in muslin (the “plane clothes”). Arlington, Virginia. ★ Many of the silver parts of the ★ When the elevators are in front of Wright airplanes are wood the wings, it is called a canard painted with a mixture of shellac configuration. and aluminum. ★ The Wright brothers’ patent was ★ All Wright airplanes use a chain for the 1902 glider, not a and-sprocket transmission to powered airplane. link the engine and the ★ The 1911 Wright EX Vin Fiz was propellers. the first to fly across the United ★ The first powered, heavier-than States. It took 49 days. air, sustained flights with a pilot were made on December 17, Learn more about the Wright brothers 1903, by Orville and Wilbur on the Museum’s web site, Wright. www.nasm.si.edu/wrightbrothers Be on the look out for Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Propellers ★ Tails ★ Wings The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Alcoa. Additional support has been provided by The Alvin, Lottie and Rachel Gray Fund, Fred and Barbara Telling, SI National Board, Fish & Neave, The Gayle H. and Peter Bickers Foundation, The Funger Foundation, Inc., (But don’t be surprised if the propellers are in the back!) NormaLee and Morton Funger, Daniel Greenberg, Susan Steinhauser and the Greenberg Foundation, Leighton and Carol Read, Mr. -
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS A. Define, Describe, Or Identify
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS A. Define, Describe, or Identify: 1. Strut – a vertical post. (p. 32) 2. Bracing – support. (p. 32) 3. Warp – twist. (p. 32) 4. Lateral – sideways. (p. 33) 5. Pitch – movement up or down. (p. 33) 6. Elevator – a movable, horizontal surface that controls motion up and down. (p. 33) 7. Canard configuration – an elevator that sits in front of the wings. (p. 33) 8. Airfoil – a wing’s profile. (p. 34) 9. Center of pressure – the focal point of lift. (p. 34) 10. Angle of attack – the angle between the relative wind and the airfoil. (p. 36) 11. Relative wind – the flow of air. (p. 36) 12. Spars – the main, lengthwise pieces of the wing. (p. 38) 13. Ribs – parts that give shape to the wings. (p. 38) 14. Skids – long, thin runners, like a pair of skis. (p. 39) 15. Yaw – a sideways movement. (p. 39) 16. Bid – an offer or proposal with a price attached. (p. 41) B. Multiple Choice: Circle the letter that provides the best answer. 1. Which was not a factor in the Wright brothers’ success? a. Their ability to learn from the experiences of others. b. Their abilities as creative problem solvers. c. Their artistic temperament kept their associates on their toes.* (p. 30) d. Their patience. 2. In striving to solve the problem of flight, the Wright brothers’ approach was to: a. Focus on the problem of power first, and then turn to control. b. Focus on control first, and then turn to power.* (p. 31) c. Have Orville focus on power and have Wilbur focus on control.