This video compilation is of three successful flights where the plane flew for at least 5 seconds before landing. After removing the rotors, the new objective was to have the plane fly successfully. A few tweaks fixed the wrongly-pitched elevator, and the flight ended with success!

The objective of this program at Nuvu this year was to create a flying object that was reminiscent of something science-fiction. Inspired by numerous flying objects both real and fictitious, our group created a plane that had many components of a standard airplane, but also included free-spinning rotors on the wing tips and a forward swept mono-wing. The advantage of the rotors on the wing tips is that they catch the on-coming wind and thus create more lift, while also slowing the plane's speed. Although this solution is inefficient for the motor as it has to carry extra weight that has a fair amount of drag, it makes the plane easier to fly in a small area, such as the testing field. The convential tail allows for air to freely pass over the wings without disturbing the horizontal stabilizer and made the plane uncontrollable. The foam v-wings are reinforced with tape to prevent fracturing, and the skids prevent the propellor from hitting the ground during landing. 

    At the very beginning of this program, a standard remote-controlled plane that one could buy at a hobby shop seemed like it could be a toy to build. However, that notion was quickly lost during the early days of the design process. From designing a plane to building and testing it, it proved to be no easy feat, but rather a tiring, and sometimes frustrating process. Many designs and iterations later, the hard work paid off, and the product of this work ended successfully. 

 After two days of intense brainstorming, the threesome came up with an idea: a plane that could takeoff vertically and fly with free-spinning rotors on the ends of the wings (to increase lift and slow the plane when flying). To get further inspiration on how to actually carry out and build this plane, the group researched and found multiple real-life examples, including an auto-gryo helicopter/plane (the rotor on top produces lift, while the propellor in the back propels the plane forward), a model airplane with rotors on the wings, and a model plane launcher. The group chose the forward swept "mono-wing" for its aerodynamic advantage and aesthetic appearance. 

    In the early stages of prototyping, the wings were cut too small and long, which would not have functioned properly with the free-spinning rotor design. As a result, the wings were re-cut, and ultimately worked well with the rotors. 

For the rotors, one of the team members designed the mount to be both light and aerodynamic. After 3D printing the mounts and installing them onto the wing (along with the laser cut rotors), the plane began to take shape. Another team member designed the fuselage to house the battery, servos, and other necessary hardware. After laser cutting the body out of foam, the wings were too large to nestle on top, so a brief edit extended the fuselage and fit the wing snugly. 

    Originally, a T tail was chosen as the default tail for the plane. However, after testing the plane with it, the group decided that there was a possibility that air disturbance coming off the wing affected the elevator, and thus the plane would only fly uncontrollably. After switching the tail to a more convential one, the plane continued to fly vertically and then stall. However, the group saw improvement from the previous iteration. 

Before testing, the group added skids and wheels, both of which were violently ripped off when the plane plummeted towards the ground (during the first few tests). 

Although the future of this plane looked grim, the group prevailed, but that need for success came at a cost. In order for the plane to fly normally, it was essential to pull the wing rotors off. Seeing that design work unsuccessfully, the group only hoped for the best... and it eventually came. On the final day of testing, the group managed to pull off three successful flights where the plane banked, pitched, and peacefully landed on the ground. With all of the hard work, it was incredibly satisfying to see a scratch-built plane soar successfully.