District IX-2011/08

156 MODEL AVIATION
JOE PIROZZOLI, from the Arvada
Associated Modelers (AAM), submitted this
report from Mark Johnson, an aerospace
engineering graduate student at the University
of Colorado.
“A group of engineering students from
around the globe convened at the Arvada
Associated Modelers Airpark to conduct a
three-minute demonstration flight of
Hyperion.
“Hyperion is the most recently completed
graduate project based at the University of
Colorado’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences
department. Hyperion is an experimental, 10-
foot-span composite aircraft designed to
demonstrate hybrid power technology on a
modified blended-wing platform.
“The Hyperion team consists of graduate
students from CU as well as the Universities
of Stuttgart (Germany) and Sydney
(Australia). The team was faced with the
challenge of finding a suitable testing site to
fly the aircraft. The Arvada Modelers Airpark,
located only 20 minutes south of Boulder,
Colorado, quickly emerged as the top choice
in meeting this objective.
“The primary runway was considered
necessary for Hyperion: a 750-feet long, 50-
feet wide, smooth, highway-grade concrete
surface that proved to be ideal for flight
testing novel aircraft geometry. Combined
with the welcoming, curious, and communityoriented
club members who accompanied the
team at the airpark and advised on safety,
these attributes finalized the team’s decision
to schedule a test flight.
“On the morning of April 23rd, light snow
was falling and the cloud ceiling was low, but
winds were adequate for flying. The Hyperion
team, accompanied by RC pilot James Mack
of Boulder, met at the airfield and promptly
conducted a final check-out flight of a halfscale
prototype aircraft.
“The prototype was launched eastbound
and flew perfectly. Satisfied with the results,
the team completed final preparations and
assembly of Hyperion and started rolling the
cameras. After a brief taxi and weight and
balance check, the aircraft accelerated down
the runway and rotated smoothly in a distance
of less than 200 feet.
“The 45-pound experimental model lifted
off and climbed into the air to the cheers of
spectators and students alike. After making a
few circles north of the runway, the aircraft
settled on all three wheels without a scratch as
it rolled down the 750-foot runway.
“The Hyperion team documented several
lessons learned from this project, aside from
the design tasks of the project itself. The
logistics of flying, from weather limits to
personnel coordination to FAA requirements,
all came into play as the project entered the
flight-test phase early this year.
“Having a helpful ground crew of
experienced modelers, like the group at AAM,
proved to be a huge help in making the final
demonstration of this project a success.”
Arvada Associated Modelers is an AMA
Gold Leader Club that is dedicated to
community service both in the City of Arvada
and the surrounding Denver metropolitan
area. The Arvada Air Park is a city-owned
facility that is managed and maintained by
AAM through its lease with Arvada.
AAM has been involved with the
University of Colorado, Aerospace
Engineering Sciences department and its
students for many years. AAM has proudly
and enthusiastically supported, facilitated, and
participated in numerous experiments and
student projects related to the university’s
Aerospace Engineering program.
The Hyperion team is checking out the
aircraft before its test flight.
Partnering with Scouts is always enjoyable
and rewarding. Here is another AAM project
that Rod Sage sent in from Arvada.
“After a week of soaking rain, the morning
dawned to cool, calm, and overcast skies, but
that didn’t stop the well over 80 people
representing Arvada Troop 999 who showed
up at our West Field for a huge and successful
launch.
“Five fellow club members were present
to help, and the organizers of this event did a
terrific job of setting up and guiding over 225
rocket launches! Out of all those only five
didn’t come down!
“If you have never helped or participated
in one of these, you have really missed
something. These are a lot of fun and it is cool
to watch these kids fly their own creations.
“When you see these kids scrambling for
their rockets in the brush, you can understand
the concern about rattlesnakes. It’s a nice
feeling, knowing that our club can provide a
venue for events like this.
“The Arvada Fire Department came with
two trucks to make sure there would be no fire
danger and all of the people there had a blast.
Our hats are off to all of the people who
helped with this event.”
The Scouts received a safety briefing before
the launching activities start.
The first
launch takes
to the skies!
Keep the sunscreen on to keep the cancer
off!
Jim Wallen
Vice President
7322 W. 82nd
Way
Arvada CO 80003
Tel.: (303) 421-
9061
www.amadistrictix.
org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Steve Culver, Omaha NE;
[email protected]
Zac Heskin, Garrison ND;
[email protected]
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Bruce Ream, Highlands Ranch
CO; [email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS;
[email protected]
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Norm Berger,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Mac Strader, Overland Park KS;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
District IX
Jim Wallen, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
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