An all 3D printed Quadcopter, the MESArcFF program looks to create some new quad designs using the Autodesk 123D design software and their new Makerbots.
MESA
This project is part of a NASA grant for which the AMA has partnered with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Jeff helped the National Model Aviation Museum build a scale model of Helios, which is a solar powered flying wing designed for NASA by AeroVironment, Inc. As Jeff worked to complete the project, he posted updates on a forum called “72nd Scale Aircraft”. The information in this article is copied directly as it was written by Jeff and appears on the forum.
Are you interested in learning how to build the Glastonbury Meadowlark? Plans, instructions and photos are included in this article to help you successfully build this model.
The PowerUp 3.0, which was created by Shai Goitein, is a device that turns any paper airplane into a smartphone-operated drone. An instructional video that explains how to operate the PowerUp 3.0 is included in this article.
Charles Eide explains how to capture great aerial shots while flying your model aircraft. He also explains the importance of investing in quality equipment, flying line of sight, timing your flights and monitoring voltage, finding a helper, choosing a platform to fly on, framing your shot and investing in a good camera.
This activity, created specially for classroom use, teaches how the forces thrust and drag affect an object moving through the air. Students will construct a paper rocket using the template provided and use it to conduct an experiment.
Sir George Cayley, often called the Father of Aeronautics, designed a helicopter powered by a bow-string mechanism with feather blades (similar to the reproduction shown here). Later, he experimented by flying a model with multiple adjustable surfaces, allowing him to understand how every change affected the model’s flight. This model is a ½ scale replica of his original 1804 model. Cayley used the data from these experiments to publish his On Aerial Navigation in 1809.