By

S. M. Anwarul Aziz
Lecturer
AIB.
PRO
Runway 32.

Outline
Components of an Aircraft

Basic Definitions
Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-1)
Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-2)
Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-3)
Additional Considerations

Components of an aircraft

Basic Definitions
Aspect Ratio, AR

AR =

Glider

= 7 - 10

Trainer

=5-7

Fighter

=3-5

Basic Definitions (cont)

Wing Loading

Weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing.

e.g. Boeing 787 :
Weight
= 228,000 kg
Wing Area
= 325 m2
Wing Loading

= 701.54 kg/m2
= 70.154 gm/cm2

Thrust to Weight Ratio

Thrust provided by powerplant divided by weight of the aircraft

e.g. Boeing 787 :
Max Thrust
= 57,084.6 kg
Weight
= 228,000 kg
T/W Ratio
= 0.25

Rules of Thumb
(Method 1)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Estimating Weight
Wing Loading Calculations
Wing Area and Other Wing Parameters
Empennage Design
Fuse Length
Wing and Empennage Position
Control Surface Sizing
Required Thrust

1. Estimating Weight
Estimate a weight for your RC.
As a beginner, it is a good idea to start
with a low weight.
e.g. Model Weight, W = 900 grams
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2. Wing Loading Calculations

Pick a Wing Loading for your Aircraft type:
Glider

= 10 oz/ft2 = 3.05 kg/m2= 0.305 gm/cm2

Trainer

= 15 oz/ft2 = 4.58 kg/m2 = 0.458 gm/cm2

Fighter

= 20 oz/ft2 = 6.10 kg/m2 = 0.610 gm/cm2

** We will go for a Trainer in this session.

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3. Wing Area and Other

Wing Parameters
Get Wing AREA (S) from Model Weight
(W) and Wing Loading (/)
Choose Aspect Ratio (AR) according to
your Aircraft type [i.e. Glider, Trainer,
Fighter]
Get Wing SPAN (b) and Wing CHORD (C)
from Aspect Ratio (AR) and Wing AREA (S)

3. Wing Area and Other Wing

Parameters (cont)
Model Weight, W
Wing Loading (/)

= 900 grams
= 0.458 gm/cm2
900
0.458

So, Wing Area, S

Let, AR = 6

[as, AR for Trainer = 5 7]

= 1965.07 cm2

=6

Wing Span, b = 6 1965.07 = 108.58 cm

Wing Chord, C =

1965.07
108.58

= 18.10 cm

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4. Empennage Design
Get Horizontal Tail AREA (SHT) and
Vertical Tail AREA (SVT) from the following
approximations:
Horizontal Tail AREA, SHT = 20 25% of
Wing AREA (S)
Take Aspect Ratio (AR) 3 or 4

Get Horizontal Tail SPAN (bHT) and

Horizontal Tail CHORD (CHT) from Aspect
Ratio (AR) and AREA (SHT)
Vertical Tail AREA,
AREA (S)

SVT = 7 11% of Wing

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4. Empennage Design (cont)

Wing Area, S = 1965.07 cm2
So, SHT = 22% of S

[SHT = 20 25% of S]
SHT = 1965.07 x 22% = 432.32 cm2

Let, AR = 3

=3

HT Span, bHT = 3 432.32

HT Chord, CHT =

And, SVT = 9% of S

432.32
32.01

= 32.01 cm

= 13.51 cm
[SHT = 7 11% of S]

SVT = 1965.07 x 9% = 176.86 cm2

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5. Fuse Length
Calculate Fuse Length from the following
approximation:
Fuse Length = 75% of Wing SPAN (b)
Fuse Height = 10 15% of Fuse Length
e.g. Wing Span, b = 108.58 cm
So, Fuse Length = 75% of b
Fuse Length = 108.58 x 75% = 81.44 cm

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6. Wing and Empennage Position

Wing position and Horizontal Tail position
may be found from the following
approximations:
Wing leading edge to Propeller or,
The NOSE LENGTH = 1 1.5 times the Wing Chord (C)
Wing trailing edge to the Elevator = 2 3 times the Wing
Chord (C)
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6. Wing and Empennage Position

(cont)
Wing Chord, C = 18.10 cm
Wing leading edge to Propeller or,
The NOSE LENGTH = 1 X 18.10 cm = 18.10 cm
Wing trailing edge to the Elevator
= 2 X 18.10 cm = 36.20 cm
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16

Summing Up

Summing Up

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7. Control Surface Sizing

Calculate Control Surface Area as
follows:
Aileron Area= 2 x

of Wing Area

Elevator Area = of HT Area

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8. Required Thrust
Get a Motor based on Estimated weight of your RC
and your Aircraft type.
Assume motor efficiency = 80 90%
So, Thrust Required for a:
Trainer type = 1.10 X Estimated weight of RC
Fighter type = 2.30 X Estimated weight of RC

e.g. Model Weight = 900 grams

Motor Required = 1.10 x 900 = 990 grams

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Additional Considerations
Powerplant should be placed as such that,
we get
2 3o Right Thrust
2 3o Down Thrust
Better to place the wing at a 3 4o
incident.
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Rules of Thumb
(Method 2)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Available Thrust
Estimating Weight
Wing Loading Calculations
Wing Area and Other Wing Parameters
Empennage Design
Fuse Length
Wing and Empennage Position
Control Surface Sizing

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Summing Up
Thrust for Trainer type = 1.10 X Est. Weight of RC
Pick a Wing Loading for your Aircraft type: Trainer =
0.458 gm/cm2

Choose Aspect Ratio (AR) according to your Aircraft

type [i.e. Glider, Trainer, Fighter]
Get Wing SPAN (b) and Wing CHORD (C) from
Aspect Ratio (AR) and Wing AREA (S)
Horizontal Tail AREA, SHT = 20 25% of Wing AREA
(S)

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Summing Up
Take Aspect Ratio (AR) 3 or 4
Get HT SPAN (bHT) and HT CHORD (CHT) from AR and SHT
Vertical Tail AREA,

SVT = 7 11% of Wing AREA (S)

Fuse Length = 75% of Wing SPAN (b)

The NOSE LENGTH = 1 1.5 times the Wing Chord (C)
Wing trailing edge to Elevator = 2 3 times the Wing
Chord (C)
Aileron Area

Elevator Area

= 1/16 of Wing Area

= 1/4 of HT Area

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Rules of Thumb
(Method 3)
Download full plans from Internet.
http://www.parkjets.com/free-plans

http://www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net/
http://www.flitetest.com/
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