Notes On Pattern Aircraft Design
SCRATCH DESIGN criteria isn't much available. It's one thing to scratch build from plans...it's another thing to design yourself a plane, but the general criteria for full-scale aircraft design holds true for RC aircraft design. Basic aircraft design begins with trying to answer the question, "What will be the gross weight of the plane?" (Gross meaning "all-up" weight in RC terms.) While this article will deal with RC planes, if we understand the rationale of full-scale design, we can better understand the principles of application to RC design. Anyhow, the gross weight is established for two basic reasons: (1) To ensure we can carry enough passengers and cargo (mission) and, (2) To give us a basis for designing sufficient wing area.
