Flying a Plane Powered by AIR

Summary

In this video, the creator embarks on a journey to build a larger, more efficient air-powered plane, inspired by a childhood Air Hogs toy. Through 3D printing and experimenting with various materials like ABS plastic, carbon fiber, and balsa wood, the creator constructs lightweight wings and a custom air engine. The project highlights numerous challenges, including wing design, engine efficiency, and weight reduction, leading to several test flights. With each iteration, the plane's flight time improves, reaching an impressive 31 seconds. Despite setbacks, the creator remains determined to push the boundaries of air-powered flight.

Takeaways

• 😀 The project began with a childhood memory of an Air Hogs plane powered by compressed air, inspiring the creator to build a larger, custom air-powered plane.
• 😀 The wings of the plane were designed using 3D printed ABS plastic ribs, combined with carbon fiber for strength and lightness, while maintaining ease of manufacture.
• 😀 A heat-set adhesive film was used to cover the wings, but issues arose with tension causing the wing tips to bend inwards and the airfoil to shrink inconsistently.
• 😀 The creator focused on improving the lift-to-drag ratio by using a known airfoil design to enhance efficiency and make the plane lighter and more powerful.
• 😀 The 3D printed air engine design produced 350 grams of thrust, which was a significant improvement over previous designs, despite using simple components.
• 😀 The use of plastic bottles for air storage was chosen over CO2 cartridges because it provided a much better air-to-weight ratio, allowing for longer flight times.
• 😀 The creator faced setbacks during testing, including a broken crankshaft, but managed to improve the design and achieve a record flight time of 31 seconds.
• 😀 A new air storage system was created using two 2L bottles mounted back to back, secured with a nylon bolt and a 3D printed cap with a ball valve for pressurization.
• 😀 The tail design used a V-tail configuration, with spring steel wire used for tensioning the control cables to keep the plane lightweight and responsive.
• 😀 Although wind conditions posed challenges for the plane’s stability, the creator continued to experiment, aiming for longer flights by reducing the plane's weight and adding additional air bottles.

Q & A

What was the inspiration behind building the air-powered plane?

The creator was inspired by an Air Hogs plane they had as a child, which was powered by a small plastic engine using compressed air. The creator wanted to build a larger, more powerful version of this air-powered plane.

Why did the creator choose ABS plastic for the wing structure?

ABS plastic was chosen for the wing structure ribs because it is lightweight and has a high melting point, which is important when applying the heat-sensitive covering film.

What were some issues faced while covering the wing with film?

The creator faced issues with the wing ribs bending inwards at the tips due to the tension in the covering film. Additionally, the heat gun caused some areas of the film to melt, creating inconsistencies in the wing's airfoil shape.

What changes were made to improve the wing design?

To improve the wing, the creator reinforced the leading edge with a thin sheet of balsa wood to prevent bending. The rib structure was also made thinner, and new carbon rods were added to help maintain the wing's shape.

What was the improvement in engine design?

The engine was improved by using a custom-molded piston seal that expands under pressure, making the piston airtight. This design significantly increased engine performance, producing 350g of thrust while weighing only 40g.

Why did the creator prefer using plastic bottles over CO2 cartridges?

The creator preferred plastic bottles because they offer a much better air storage-to-weight ratio than CO2 cartridges. While CO2 cartridges are highly pressurized, their small volume means they can't store as much air as plastic bottles, making bottles a more efficient choice.

What is the role of the Opera browser in the creator's workflow?

The Opera browser helps streamline the creator's workflow by organizing research tabs into 'tab islands' and offering features like the ARA AI tool for quick explanations, calculations, and research tasks, which is useful for technical projects like this.

How did the creator ensure the airtight seal for the air storage bottles?

To create an airtight seal, the creator used a nylon bolt to attach two plastic bottles together and designed a 3D printed filler cap with a ball valve. The cap allowed for easy pressurization while ensuring no leaks during tests.

What unique design choice was made for the aircraft's tail?

Instead of a traditional elevator and rudder, the creator used a V-tail design for the aircraft, which involves two tail fins that control both pitch and yaw. The control surfaces were operated by cables and a torsion spring for constant tension.

What challenge did the creator face during the flight tests, and how was it resolved?

During the flight tests, the creator faced a leak in the rear bottle cap, which was causing a drop in pressure. After fixing the leak with a larger O-ring and reassembling the plane, the aircraft achieved its best flight time of 1 minute and 22 seconds. However, further tweaks were needed to reduce weight and increase stability.