Starting its third year of new operations, EUROAVIA AS Patras felt the need to expand its technical division. The Rocket project had become overcrowded and many new members were joining the organization to take on the task of completing a project. During our recruiting period, a campaign begun asking our members and fans what should the second project be. The choice of the airplane project was made between a handful of ideas and was suggested by one of our new members.
The task is seemingly simple. Build a functional, model airplane, as independent as possible. Setting a vague target allowed our members to take initiative and expand the project to the level they wanted. Independence for most refers to power but the team is also considering an autonomous piloting system. The team, consisting of around 15 EUROAVIAns, was split into three groups, Design, Mechanical and Electrical, under supervision of Aggelos Tsitsiridakis, member of our technical division.
The Airplane project timidly begun the last week of 2019. Vacations and semester exams made for a shy start for a big project that was estimated to need at least a year for completion. Nevertheless, the first steps were made before the organization pressed pause due to restrictions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. The first reports are already submitted, covering the first revision of specifications and timelines. As far as independence is concerned, the Electrical team has made an in-depth research on solar power and market availability of solar panels in collaboration with the Design team. They have also researched usage of brushed and brushless motors, weighing the pros and cons, and discussed the necessity for Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs). For their part, the Design team has provided the draft sketches and dimensions for the plane’s fuselage, weight approximations and limitations. Finally, the mechanical team, in close contact with the other teams, is researching materials, strength, weight, durability and cost.