New personal Record!
On September 9th, 2014 the SAE aero design team decided to push our airplane to create a new personal best. Previously we had been test flying many a times but did not go over 15lbs. There was always one reason or another why we could add more payload and keep flying. But not today, nothing was stopping us from flying the skies and breaking our personal record, not even the early morning showers. We had previously had problems stopping the plane so we had decided to try a new braking system. Which failed at first attempt, after analyzing the problem we gave it a fix and were airborne again, nothing was stopping us today. After successfully testing the brakes we decide to go for it. We were going to try and lift 18.5 lbs of payload! A total of (approx) 31 lbs of weight being pulled by a 61 size engine. We taxied to one end of the runway, the birds inviting us to the sky, the sun beaming down on us. We hit full throttle the plane started gaining momentum, a few seconds later it was airborne! The take off was beautiful, the plane was simmering through the skies. then came the most important and dangerous time of the flight, we were about to land. With all our hearts in our mouths, the plane started it descent, it reached the runway, stuck the landing! But wait it wasn't slowing down. the brakes unfortunately could not handle such momentum, we ended up using the full runway to slow down, the plane stopped safely at the end and history was made in our books. Enjoy the video!
Success at first flight!
The team successfully flew with zero payload for the first time since the project started. Minor adjustments had to be done to the engine. Everything went as expected and even overpassed expectations. All control surfaces behaved predictably, the engine ran smoothly, and the structure remained intact after several test flights. The team is looking forward for next weekend's flight!
Pre-competition flight video
One of many ways to earn the points that will decide the podium at the SAE Aero Design competition is by submitting a video to the judges before (date here). Here is our pre-competition flight video!
Touch and go!
Our skillful pilot Kishan Kalpoe practices landing the PanthAir cargo several times by touching ground and taking off before the aircraft runs out of runway in what is better known as the "touch-and-go" technic.
The building process...
First captures of the building of a bird, the PanthAir Cargo. The team spent countless hours over the summer giving shape to the aircraft. (under construction)