LEGO Sorting Plant!

So Dynaway had these guys ----> BrickIt 

make them --->

Capable of this ---->

Nothing further.

Reference Text: "Summary of Airfoil Data" - National Advisory Committee For Aeronautics

Old but valuable, airfoil theory and the aerodynamic characteristics of various airfoil sections (NACA profiles)


The complete text available via the NASA Technical Report Server: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930090976_1993090976.pdf


Report No. 824
Summary of Airfoil Data, 1945
by: Ira H. Abbott, Albert E. von Doenhoff & Louis S. Stivers, Jr.


Also see: University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign - Airfoil Coordinates Database 

USAF Stability & Control DATCOM (Data Compendium)

For those who haven't come across this colossal project, here's a quick intro from its wiki page:

The United States Air Force Stability and Control DATCOM is a collection, correlation, codification, and recording of best knowledge, opinion, and judgment in the area of aerodynamic stability and control prediction methods. It presents substantiated techniques for use (1) early in the design or concept study phase, (2) to evaluate changes resulting from proposed engineering fixes, and (3) as a training on crosstraining aid. It bridges the gap between theory and practice by including a combination of pertinent discussion and proven practical methods. For any given configuration and flight condition, a complete set of stability and control derivatives can be determined without resort to outside information.

A spectrum of methods is presented, ranging from very simple and easily applied techniques to quite accurate and thorough procedures. Comparatively simple methods are presented in complete form, while the more complex methods are often handled by reference to separate treatments. Tables which compare calculated results with test data provide indications of method accuracy. Extensive references to related material are also included. 

The report was compiled from September 1975 to September 1977 by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation in conjunction with the engineers at the Flight Dynamics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF_Stability_and_Control_DATCOM


Ok, with that of the way, here's the entire (1978 revision) declassified PDF document (3134 pages, 113 MB):

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADB072483

I can safely say that this report was a life saver during stability and control analysis projects and preliminary aircraft design. It also helps that it's easy to use with a detailed table of contents that almost always gets what you what you need.

My stability and control textbook from college extensively implemented DATCOM methods. Here's a preview:



The DATCOM report also gave way to a computer program (USAF Digital DATCOM) which allowed users to analyse various aircraft configurations based on geometry and flight condition inputs.

Intro tutorial we used at college:

Direct link to file: http://openae.org/files/resources/digital_datcom/DATCOM_Tutorial_I.pdf



The Digital DATCOM project has seen 3rd party updates and innovations over the years, with the inclusion of 3D model viewing, MATLAB/Simulink integration etc. To get a better idea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF_Digital_DATCOM#Current_Development

Boeing 747-8 Flutter Issues with Tail Tanks

The horizontal stabiliser tail tanks on the 747-8 are to be 'deactivated' to comply with FAA regulations. With fuel laden tail tanks, the 747-8 Intercontinental manages to excite a structural mode 'under a certain regulatory-required structural failure scenario'. 


I'd love to know what kind of scenario this occurs under. I'm betting it's some sort of longitudinal manoeuvre that sets off the empennage. Guess we'll know if and when Boeing decides to reveal details from their flight test report. 


From source: "The 747-8 programme has faced vibration concerns before, after a 2.3Hz limit cycle oscillation (LCO) in the wings prompted Boeing to develop the Outboard Aileron Modal Suppression (OAMS) system to dampen out vibration with the aircraft's fly-by-wire ailerons."


Original article: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-locks-out-747-8-tail-fuel-tanks-on-flutter-concerns-367148/

The Royal Institution's New Video Collection - Science, Maths, Nature, Engineering, Space, Environment etc!

This looks like a great showcase of science vids! For a start:

The RI Channel 

Oh, and of course, they have all their Christmas Lectures too. 

Here's an example:

The creator, Matthias Wandel, has a website too --> http://woodgears.ca/ (An Engineer's Approach to Woodworking)

New Process Promises Drag Reducing Coatings for Marine/Aero Applications

Infrared Radiation-Assisted Evaporative Lithography:

Although the University of Surrey researchers claim that this technology may initially see aesthetic applications the possibility of using this customisable coatings on ships and aircraft could mean serious fuel savings.

News via Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) https://twitter.com/#!/RAeSTimR :

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/inexpensive-process-offers-prospect-of-low-drag-surface-coatings-366952/

Link to the University of Surrey news release: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2011/68467_new_coatings_process_to_reduce_the_carbon_footprint_of_the_transport_industry.htm

Link to a PDF presentation introducing the chemical process (from 2010): http://tinyurl.com/7ok87c6

MIT Researchers Find Critical Speed Above which Birds - and Drones - are Sure to Crash

Emilio Frazzoli, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT explains his concept of a 'theoretical speed limit' for birds and aircraft alike. He and his research student argue that regardless of the apriori knowledge available to said bird/UAV about their terrain, a critical speed exists beyond which a collision is highly probable. 


Results of his research could mean faster UAVs that do not simply rely on sensor data but engineered intuition.


"When you go skiing off the path, you don't ski in a way that you can always stop before the first tree you see," Frazzoli says. "You ski and you see an opening, and then you trust that once you go there, you'll be able to see another opening and keep going."


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/miot-mrf011912.php

First Flight for Cessna Citation 'Ten' Prototype

A two hour first flight for the upgraded Citation X, branded the 'Ten', tested the aircraft's flight controls package, engine performance and handling qualities.

Full story here: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-video-citation-ten-takes-to-the-skies-367082/

Aircraft performance and spec numbers here --> http://www.cessna.com/citation/citation-ten/ten-performance.html#

Promo video:

Video: Wide angle in-cockpit view from an A320

On-board an A320 - Great video of takeoffs and landings in HD.