Increasind the Aerodynamic Efficiency of the Skyranger Microlight Through Shape Optimisation Methods
BRUNEL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
INCREASING THE SKYRANGER’S AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE THROUGH SHAPE OPTIMISATION OF THE WING
KENNEDY KAIRU MBUGUA
0803460
SUPERVISOR: RAY KIRBY
ME3309
Overview of the Project
The Skyranger along with other ultra-light home build plane are designed and constructed to be extremely cost effective due to the low price at which they are marketed. In this report the aerodynamic performance of the Skyranger’s wing is analysed and particular modifications such as the implementation of wing twist and the introduction of wingtip devices are discussed as possible retrofits. Issues being investigated: induced drag caused by the production of lift especially though take-off and landing configurations in aircraft, parasite drag caused by the modifications such as winglets, implementations of the modifications. Concluded is the success of the project and whether the proposed modifications are a realistic improvement to the Skyranger taking into account all design factors such as cost, complexity of the design and build and weight changes.
Aims, Objectives and Milestones.
The aim of the project is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Skyranger wing using forms of shape control on the wing planform. This will be achieved through the following objectives.
Back Ground Research
This will be split into two sections that will look into the background wing tip devices and wing twist
Wing Twist
In 1899 the wright brothers were experimenting on wing twist as a means of controlling the rolling motion of an aircraft. This was accomplished though many hours of watching birds in flight when Wilbur Wright concluded that “regain their lateral balance when partly overturned by gust of wind by torsion of the tips of the wings” (Padfield and Lawrence 2005). This is considered as one of the most important discoveries of aviation and also the origins of wing twist. Ludwing Prandtl published the
INCREASING THE SKYRANGER’S AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE THROUGH SHAPE OPTIMISATION OF THE WING
KENNEDY KAIRU MBUGUA
0803460
SUPERVISOR: RAY KIRBY
ME3309
Overview of the Project
The Skyranger along with other ultra-light home build plane are designed and constructed to be extremely cost effective due to the low price at which they are marketed. In this report the aerodynamic performance of the Skyranger’s wing is analysed and particular modifications such as the implementation of wing twist and the introduction of wingtip devices are discussed as possible retrofits. Issues being investigated: induced drag caused by the production of lift especially though take-off and landing configurations in aircraft, parasite drag caused by the modifications such as winglets, implementations of the modifications. Concluded is the success of the project and whether the proposed modifications are a realistic improvement to the Skyranger taking into account all design factors such as cost, complexity of the design and build and weight changes.
Aims, Objectives and Milestones.
The aim of the project is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Skyranger wing using forms of shape control on the wing planform. This will be achieved through the following objectives.
Back Ground Research
This will be split into two sections that will look into the background wing tip devices and wing twist
Wing Twist
In 1899 the wright brothers were experimenting on wing twist as a means of controlling the rolling motion of an aircraft. This was accomplished though many hours of watching birds in flight when Wilbur Wright concluded that “regain their lateral balance when partly overturned by gust of wind by torsion of the tips of the wings” (Padfield and Lawrence 2005). This is considered as one of the most important discoveries of aviation and also the origins of wing twist. Ludwing Prandtl published the
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