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Team Enduroflight "Valkyrie"

Summary

 

Valkyrie was designed and built in 1996 by a team of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electrical engineering students at OSU as a project for MAE 4374 Aerospace Systems Design.  The design goal was to build an extreme endurance aircraft that could set an FAI Endurance record for airplanes in its class.  The record at the time of Valkyrie's construction was approximately 33 hours.  Flight tests including fuel consumption tests demonstrated an endurance capability of the Valkyrie of over 40 hours, and a range of approximately 1200 miles (The Valkyrie could fly direct from Stillwater to the east coast of Virginia).  The actual record attempt was not completed due to logistics at semesters end.

 

The Airplane    The Team    Multimedia    The Mission    Sponsors

 

The Airplane

Specifications

 

Wing

Fuselage

Propulsion

Weights

Systems

Performance

 

 

The Team

The Enduroflight Team was lead by a chief engineer, and was divided into 4 technical groups: Aerodynamics/Stability and Control, Propulsion, Structures, and Systems.

 

Chief Engineer:    David Fowler

 

Aerodynamics / Stability and Control

 

Heath Miller (Lead)

Brian Hafner

 

Propulsion

 

Michael Fox (Lead)

Bethany Waddell

Ching Jeat Chan

 

Structures

 

Tim Cowan (Lead)

Brandon Barnes

Ken Martin

Chen Hwang Tay

Soon-Wai Leong

 

Systems

 

Aaron Schwing

Jiman Sharyong Oon

Ahmad Ovais Chaudhry

Jen Yech Chin

Yiek-Tiong Too

Choon Wah Seow

 

Pilots

Dan Bierly

Paul Reinman

 

Faculty Advisor:  Dr. Andrew S. Arena, Jr.

 

 

Team Logo:

 

Multimedia

  Video

It is recommended that you right click on the link and use "Save Target as..." to download the video to your computer before playing.

 

Team Video (51MB):  The music video introduces the team, and highlights the development and testing of the aircraft.  This video also includes the night flights of the Valkyrie.

 

  Pictures

(Hover cursor over any thumbnail on this page for a description)

 

   

 

The Mission

The mission for the Valkyrie was to be capable of setting an FAI world endurance record.  The record at the time of the Valkyrie's design was 33 hours, 39 minutes, 15 seconds.  The Valkyrie falls within the FAI's F3A classification for  piston engined, radio controlled aircraft.  Major design constraints for this class are as follows:

 

Maximum gross weight:    11.023 lb

Maximum engine displacement: 0.61 cubic inches

Maximum planform area:        2325 sq in

Maximum wing loading:    24.57 oz/sq ft

Minimum wing loading:    3.95 oz/sq ft

 

Since attempting the record would not have been possible within the semester time frame due to logistical concerns, the Enduroflight team was required to meet three phases of qualification that demonstrated that they could break the record.

 

Phase 1:  Night Flight

Since the aircraft would have to fly at night for a 40 hour record, the team had to demonstrate this capability. 

The Valkyrie demonstrated night flight capability on a moonless night (near midnight) for 30 minutes continuously.  The team used reflective tape on the aircraft combined with ground-based spotlights.  This system worked remarkably well.

 

Phase II:  Full gross weight takeoff

The aircraft had to demonstrate that it could be launched and climb when at the full gross weight of 11.023 lb.

The Valkyrie demonstrated this, and although climb was slow, it was not a problem.

 

Phase III:    Endurance Qualification

The aircraft had to demonstrate a fuel burn rate that would achieve the required 40 hour endurance.

The Valkyrie did this, and fuel burn was reduced to an impressive 1.62 oz/hr

 

 

Sponsors

The following sponsors contributed to the project.  The Enduroflight team greatly appreciates their support, and considers them members of our team.  Without their support, the project would not have been possible.

 

Steve Douglas    -    Network America

Rick Bentley    -    Hydra Services

Doris Cross    -    Doris' Weight Loss Center

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