Aircraft
HUI
Primary test platform for electronic and manufacturing packages. Modified to allow electronic circuit testing with payload pods attached by a universal connector underneath the aircraft. Test circuitry includes solar power management, attitude sensors, position sensors, flight computer, communications and servo command units. A variety of different wing types have also been constructed to fit this commercial air frame.
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F111
Primary flight wing for the HUI aircraft. Composed of balsa plated foam, this wing houses four servos and four control surfaces. This wing uses the SD7080 air foil with a span of 3.1m and an aspect ratio of approximately 3.0.
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K-wing
Back up wing for the HUI aircraft, used to demonstrate new construction methods and materials. Composed of fiber glass and Kevlar covering a wire cut blue foam core. One central stiffening spar constructed from a carbon, balsa, carbon sandwich. Dimensions and mass are approximately the same as the F111 wing.
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Ra Flight-I (coming soon)
The predecessor to Ra Flight-II, Ra Flight-I is a Monokote covered traditional rib and spar wing. Composed of balsa or bass wood ribs and carbon fiber spars, this wing is meant to demonstrate flight before adding in solar cells. Other features include fully embedded control mechanisms for the for control surfaces minimizing associated drag.
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Metis I
Built as a wind tunnel demonstrator and test model for the later Metis II, this model is built to full scale for calculation verification of CFD results obtained during the design phase of the project. The Metis family of planes are constructed after a flying wing design to maximize solar cell area and minimize drag.
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Metis II
Built as SolarBubbles first flying aircraft, Metis II was constructed from CNC cut blue foam with a thin fiberglass shell. Metis is powered by two small pusher prop motors and houses all RC control electronics along with batteries inside the wing itself. Flight test showed a stable but underpowered aircraft for which more solar cell surface is needed.
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FT-Lightning
A commercial 4-channel trainer aircraft used to train pilots joining the team
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Fire Fly
A commercial 4-channel trainer aircraft (slow stick) modified to carry indicator lights for night flight operations. This aircraft is also used to train new pilots.
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Trash Cart
A quickly constructed aircraft frame meant only for the flight of the IGy wing. This air craft will be fully retired at the end of IGy testing.
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IGy (Illuminated Glass)
Constructed at the end of the Skeleton series of wings, this wing incorporated internally mounted servo control arms to reduce drag on the wing. Like the previous Skeleton series this wing incorporates microscope slides to mimic solar cells. Unlike the Skeleton wings this wing is also meant for a full flight test on the Trash Cart air frame with the aid of some "training wheel" wing tip attachments to increase wingspan.
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Gnat series of aircraft
The gnat series is an ongoing collection of aircraft built and flown by new members. Gnats are four channel classical configuration aircraft used to teach construction methods and basic aerodynamic properties of aircraft. Our teaching methodology for the gnat program is an on going process.
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Gnat - "G" nat
Constructed by Pat Senatore to define the gnat project for the newly joining members. Lessons learned, a slow stall air foil would make a better choice for members still learning to fly.
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Gnat- Velociraptor
Still under construction.
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Gnat - Team awesome
Still under construction.
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Wind Tunnel Test Sections
Chiller
This wing section utilized an adjustable separated top skin to convective cool embedded solar cells. The test rig used four solar cells wired in series along with thermal couples and pressure ports.
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Stork
This wing section is constructed for the purpose of placing the HUI air frame in the 2'x2' wing tunnel for aerodynamic analysis. Test preformed so far, moment and drag induced by electronics pods and control authority of elevator.
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Goose
A small project attempting to create a small fouler flap like control surface.
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Skeleton I
A strait wing section constructed to except a a fiberglass panel with embedded solar cells. This wing used the traditional rib and spar method with balsa wood ribs and a carbon fiber balsa wood samwich for the spar. The carbon fiber is laid up in an i-beam configuration with balsa strips adhered to the i-beam web on both sides.
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Skeleton II
A strait wing section constructed with inset stringers to support solar cells. Microscope slides were used in place of solar cells to reduce cost and are nearly as fragile. Testing included torsion and bending of the section. This wing features monokote encapsulated solar cell array (microscope slide approximation) and cylindrical carbon fiber rods for spars.
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Skeleton III
Similar to Skeleton II with the exception of being a tapered span, this wing was the last in the skeleton series. Lessons learned from this series were implemented in the construction and manufacture of the Raytheon Wing.
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Other Construction Efforts
Raytheon Wing
A solar powered wing section constructed as a gift to one of our generous sponsors, Raytheon Missile Systems: GNC. This wing features a working solar array to power LEDs back lighting both University of Michigan and Raytheon GNC systems logos. Lessons learned on this wing included soldering of solar cell arrays and embedded control surface mechanisms.
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