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  • Airplane school project.

    Hi,
    OK so my son is in the 6th grade and he has to do the following project.

    Build from scratch a model airplane that can

    1. Fly for at least 30 ft.
    2. Turn at will
    3. Go up and down at will
    4. Land without crashing

    His "team"had to decide on a type of plane to build.
    They chose a military aircraft

    Then someone had to bring in a photo of one.
    They brought in a photo of an F-14

    So,now the model has to resemble the photo brought in by his team.

    So I have to build a model from scratch that looks like an F-14 and can perfrom the 4 objectives above.

    Any ideas out there cuz I'm stumped

    Thanks
    Scott
    "It's better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought a fool, then to open it and remove all
    doubt."

    Click Here to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!

  • #2
    Scott,
    Seems like your screwed! A landing in an F-14 is best described as a "controled crash".

    Seriously, you are going to have a hard time. Can the kids use anything pre-made? Like those balsa type planes? If not, then I recommend a trip to Home Depot and get a sheet of white or blue styrofoam. They sell that stuff in different thicknesses, and can be cut easily with a razor. Some glues will eat it up though, but duct tape (duck for some of you..) sticks to it nicely.

    I'm sure using your photo, and some imagination you can cut something up to look like a Tomcat. Obviously, it needs to be a little nose heavy, so adding coins with tape, you can get it to balance a little nose heavy.

    The problem as I see it, will be getting it to turn "at will" and "climb "at will" with out the use of some type of control system. That may be a tough one for a 6th grader.

    Show us some photos of the project as it progresses if you can!

    Jeff

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    • #3
      I used to play around with the foam used in packing. Using a sander makes it easy to shape the plane. I'd try the sander after cutting a rough shape. Good luck!
      CheckSix

      Equipment: A camera (who gives a rip about the brand?)

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      • #4
        Scott,

        For $3 million, I can send you an F110 engine for your F-14.

        Kevin

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        • #5
          Kevin,

          Pay more attention, he will need 2.

          Comment


          • #6
            Thanks for the tips guys.

            I'm going to give the styrofoam a shot I think.
            If I can get it to resemble an F-14 and maybe fly for a few seconds I'll be happy with that.

            Scott
            "It's better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought a fool, then to open it and remove all
            doubt."

            Click Here to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!

            Comment


            • #7
              Scott,
              One last tip...

              Make sure you don't build it with the wings too far back. For trim purposes, tape some stiff cardboard on the trailing edges of the wings, and on the stab as well. That way if you get the plane to balance, you can "trim" out any bad flight characteristics by bending the cardboard in the proper direction without having to chase the load.

              Sounds like fun!

              Comment


              • #8
                Smaller wing span=not much lift=can't travel far=stall=Crash. Should have picked a plane with a big wing span. But kids like the fighter jets, so that why they probably went with that. All i can say is that its going to be hard.


                -PIAA310
                ***My Blog***

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