Sorry, but that don't count
If you want a standard sport model, then
copy a good standard sport model and change the outlines to suit your
tastes. If you don't think anyone does this, just look at all the "new
and original" designs in some of the R/C magazines that are nearly exact
copies of 100 other "new and original" designs published by the same
magazines over the past couple of years.
I don't consider changing outlines to be
"designing your own." At best it should be considered re-styling. But it will get you started so it is not a horrible
thing to do either. However, please be courteous enough not to submit
it to a magazine. There are more than enough Kadet, Ugly Stik and
Kaos
clones out there already that people are taking credit for even though they
don't deserve it.
I read a web page a while back entitled, "How to Design a Radio Control
Airplane." As I read through the page I realized that the title is
misleading and wrong. The author of the article provides a set of
cookie-cutter parameters for one design — you guessed
it — an Ugly Stik or Kaos clone depending on the wing location and
whether you decide to taper it (Kaos). A better title for the page
would be, "Copy my design please."
All moments, areas and ratios are pre-determined leaving the "designer" only to
determine the size of the aircraft and choose an airfoil. All aircraft built from the
given parameters will basically be the same aircraft.
As far as I'm concerned that's not really designing an airplane.
It's simply copying someone else's design. When you think about it
there are very few new ideas in our realm. We are standing on the
shoulders of giants. That doesn't mean we can't mix it up a little to
design something somewhat out of the ordinary or just to further improve an
already existing design.
I believe that if someone is going to say this is how to design a model
airplane then he should cover how things actually work and how each
parameter affects the airplane. A set of pre-packaged numbers doesn't
do that.
I encourage you to build
your original design. There is absolutely no reason why you can't.
Build a canard, a
flying wing, something out of Star Wars or whatever. You will realize it is not a black art and
it doesn't require an aerospace
degree when you see your creation take to the skies. Even if your
design doesn't fly (which is unlikely) you'll still learn a lot. An
honest attempt is never a failure regardless of the outcome.
The one thing that you need to know is that if you design
something that looks right it will fly. I can almost guarantee your
success if you build the airframe straight, strong,
light
and get the center of gravity close to correct. If the model is a
standard planform then put the CG between 27% and 33%
MAC to
start.
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