Competition RC Aircraft
A fixed-wing built to win on payload-to-time — and it nearly did.
Summary
Our senior design team set out to build a fixed-wing aircraft that maximized payload-to-time over a three-lap circuit. As propulsion lead, I owned the powertrain: motor, ESC, battery, and propeller, tuned for the narrow window between thrust and endurance. The result was a high-wing monoprop that hand-launches, belly-lands, and placed 2nd overall while winning best team performance.
The Build
The design started in XFLR, where we ran aerodynamic analysis and control-stability sweeps until the configuration settled: high wing for stability, a single tractor prop, no landing gear to save weight. Every gram mattered against the payload target, so the fuselage was balsa and the wing was foam over a wood spar — light, but stiff enough to survive a hand launch and a belly landing.
Powertrain selection was the long pole. I sized a 540 KV motor against an 80 A ESC and a 6S 3300 mAh pack, then matched a 13-inch prop to keep the system in its efficient band at cruise while still pulling a 0.85 thrust-to-weight off the launch. Two test flights closed the loop and confirmed the numbers.
Results
- Won best overall team performance.
- 2nd-best score in payload-to-time ratio.
- Achieved a max L/D of 12.5 at the design point.
Specifications
Documents
- RequirementsPDF
- CDR PresentationPDF
- CDR ReportPDF
- Final Design ReportPDF
Gallery
