Item 0905

DESIGN: UniCopter ~ Dimension, Area & Drag - Drag - In Sideslip

Reference: DESIGN: UniCopter ~ Dimension, Area & Drag - View - Side, X-Z plane

body axis system

Notes:

To try to determine the lateral static stability.

Rough Calculation of Moment about the Z-axis:

 

 

Area:

Drag Coefficient

Equivalent Flat Plate Area:

Arm:

Area x Arm:

 

Canopy nose

2 ft2

0.5

1 ft2

+2.75 ft.

+2.75 ft2 - ft.

 

Canopy w/ doors

12 ft2

0.8

9.6 ft2

+1.5 ft.

+14.4 ft2 - ft.

 

Rear Fuselage

5.2 ft2

0.7

3.64 ft2

-0.8 ft.

-2.9 ft2 - ft.

 

Boom ~ 4 ft2 x 2

8 ft2

0.6

4.8 ft2

--5.5 ft.

-26.4 ft2 - ft.

 

V. Stab. ~ 4.1 ft2 x 2

8.2 ft2

2.0

16.4 ft2

-9.5 ft.

-155.8 ft2 - ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Resultant:

-168.0 ft2 - ft.

Rough Calculation of Moment about the X-axis: (for-aft axis through center of rotors)

 

 

Area:

Drag Coefficient

Equivalent Flat Plate Area:

Arm:

Area x Arm:

 

Canopy nose

2 ft2

0.5

1 ft2

+3.75 ft.

+3.75 ft2 - ft.

 

Canopy w/ doors

12 ft2

0.8

9.6 ft2

+2.2 ft.

+21.1 ft2 - ft.

 

Rear Fuselage

5.2 ft2

0.7

3.64 ft2

+2.0 ft.

+7.3 ft2 - ft.

 

Boom ~ 4 ft2 x 2

8 ft2

0.6

4.8 ft2

+0.5 ft.

+2.4 ft2 - ft.

 

V. Stab. ~ 4.1 ft2 x 2

8.2 ft2

2.0

16.4 ft2

-1.0 ft.

-16.4 ft2 - ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Resultant:

+18.5 ft2 - ft.

The fact that the fuselage and boom have more drag then the vertical stabilizer will give instability. The CofG will be 24.5" - ((18.5/35.44)*12)" (approx.) = 18.2" below the vertical center of drag. This should have a positive effect. The horizontal stabilizer will act as a winglet on the vertical stabilizer and this may also help.

Fuselage:

xxx

Landing Gear:

xxx

Horizontal Stabilizer:

 xxx

Vertical Stabilizer:

xxx

 

Main Rotors:

xxx

Vectored Exhaust & Cooling: No effect during autorotation.

xxx

Total Equivalent Flat Plate Area:

xxx

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Last Revised: July 4, 2004