Light Aircraft Design
2

Question

Light Aircraft Design

guest0821 (visitor)

(OP)

23 Jul 02 14:51

Hello,
I have been thinking of building a scaled down version of a WW2 fighter aircraft large enough to carry one person.I have access to scale drawings which are mainly used for aeromodelling for the basic shape. Where do I start with the process of working out the necessary calculations required in a project of this sort.
Thanks

JayMaechtlen (Industrial) · Answer 1 · 2002-07-24 15:45:42

1. read all the homebuilt aircraft magazines you can find.
2. become good friends with one or more aircraft designers
3. hang out where homebuilts are being built and flown.

4. other aircraft have been built as scaled replicas. read about them and the design process.

5. have you built model airplanes? I mean real flying ones?
There's another place to begin learning!

have fun
Jay

Jay Maechtlen

swertel (Mechanical) · Answer 2 · 2002-07-25 09:53:05

More importantly, satisfy our curiosity. Which WWII fighter and how did you get the scaled drawings?

**guest0821** (visitor) · Answer 3 · 2002-07-26 12:03:32

Swertel
Why should it be more important to satisfy your curiosity.
Can you help with my original, abeit simplistic question?

clausxpf (Automotive) · Answer 4 · 2002-08-04 03:31:47

I think that in evry country there is an officiel inspection for construction at home of aircrafts, I know for sure there are here in Denmark. They will tell you what kind of inspection there is needed and what tests that have to be done during the construction.
Most homemade airplanes start out as bigger scale models of the actual aircraft one wants to build, and with at building mode that is as near to the big one you want to make.. and one the for sure..you will find that on some subjets things have to be a little of scale to make it fly the way it is supposed to. Often tailplane and elevator have to be a little larger to compensate for lower flying speed.
That way a lot af practical things are solved in the cheap way. and belive me that is a part of the fun doing it all by yourself.
Claus

riktoo (Aeronautics) · Answer 5 · 2002-12-10 00:05:36

I don`t know if this is too late now as your post was last july but, Jurca in France sells scaled replica fighters and another co. in Alberta Canada sells kits and engines.
Do a research in :
www. landings.com
in the homebuilt sections.
If you want to design it yourself , it will be a long learning process and could result in disaster.

dhilpert (Computer) · Answer 6 · 2003-01-24 15:31:20

I would recomend that you find a local chapter of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association.) (www.eaa.org). You can ususally go to a small GA airport in your area and the airport manager should be able to point you in the right direction. They can guide you from design/ kit selection tools, calculation etc. I'm currently building a 3/4 scale P-40 replica from a Kit from Lohele Aircraft. Be aware that you just can't scale down from a full size plan. A P51 had very high wing loading and a complicated airfoil design that required high speed to take off and land. The P-40 could not land in a cross wind period. (it says so in the original pilots manual). This means that the scaled down version will probably require a different airfoil from the original as well as larger control areas (unless you plan on powering it with a 1700hp rolls merlin). Aircraft Spruce and Wicks aircraft have books on design plus once you get aquainted with the EAA folks you might run accross people who've actually flown your aircraft and could give you pointers. Also Eaa has a warbirds magazine you might be interested in subscribing to.

TurboTag (Automotive) · Answer 7 · 2003-02-13 09:33:50

ok, I am curious too. Dhilpert is right on. The P-40 is one of my all time favorites. With the availabilty of turbines these days why do so many of the replica's end up 3/4 scale or even 7/8. Don't get me wrong I understand the operating cost difference I just wish there were more full scale replicas.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Tim

fx35 (Aeronautics) · Answer 8 · 2003-02-17 16:16:30

A "scaled down" version is the worst solution. You must first decide in which class will be this craft (ULM, VLA etc.) The secon step is to read legal regulations regarding weigth, speed and oveloads. Usually, the structure strength must be re-designed according to new overloads.
Sorry for my english.. is not my native language.

twodogs (Electrical) · Answer 9 · 2003-02-24 16:53:38

I too thought about doing this a few years ago. First question - just for you or do you want to sell these? Not plans, the actual A/C? 2nd, check withthe FAA and talk to a local EAA chapter. Lotsa work for either decision,more so if you want to sell to others. Before it will get an airwiorthiness certificate, you must:
1. Justify design choices to the FAA. Design calculations, etc.
2. Demonstrate meeting that design in practice. Pix, test samples, etc.
(If selling)3. Demostrate a quality system to insure you are building to the approved design.
I sell PMA (approved) Piper sunvisors - small, harmless devices, easy to build, but a royal P.I.T.A. for quality system and adherence!Best of luck!

Aerodesign (Aerospace) · Answer 10 · 2003-03-03 10:03:30

Hi,
We specialise in projects like this, l can give you some tips if you are seriously interested.

john@rcs-aviation.com

Come Join Us!

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Light Aircraft Design
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