• The aircraft may be of any configuration except rotary wing or lighter-than-air.
• Maximum wing span is 10 feet.
• No payload may be carried internal to the wing.
• Must be propeller driven and electric powered with an unmodified, over the counter model electric motor. May use multiple motors and/or propellers. May be direct drive or with gear or belt reduction. For safety, each aircraft will use a commercially produced propeller. Teams may modify the propeller diameter by clipping the tip.
• All motors must be from the Graupner or Astro Flight families of brushed electric motors. Motors will be limited to a maximum of 40 Amp current draw by means of a single 40 Amp fuse in the line from the battery pack positive terminal to the motor controller. A lower current fuse may be used if desired.
• Must use over the counter NiCad batteries. For safety, battery packs must have shrink-wrap or other protection over all electrical contact points. The individual cells must be commercially available, and the manufacturers label must be readable (i.e. clear shrink wrap preferred). All battery disconnects must be "fully insulated" style connectors.
• Maximum battery pack weight is 5.0 lb. Battery pack must power propulsion and payload systems. Radio Rx and servos (only) may be on a separate battery pack. Batteries may not be changed or charged between sorties during a flight period.
• Aircraft and pilot must be AMA legal. This means that the aircraft TOGW (take-off gross weight with payload) must be less than 55 lb., and the pilot must be a member of the AMA. Since this is an AMA sanctioned event, the team must submit proof that the aircraft has been flown prior to the contest date (in flight photo or video). The pilot need not be a student at the represented university.
• Teams will present a completed copy of their Rated Aircraft Cost worksheet to the judges during technical inspection for verification. The Rated Aircraft Cost assigned at the technical inspection will be used for the competition and may not be modified during the event.

1. Physical inspection of vehicle to insure structural integrity.
• Verify all components adequately secured to vehicle. Verify all fasteners tight and have either safety wire, lock-tite (fluid) or nylock nuts.
• Verify propeller structural and attachment integrity.
• Visual inspection of all electronic wiring to assure adequate wire gauges and connectors in use. Teams must notify inspector of expected maximum current draw for the propulsion system.
• Radio range check, motor off and motor on.
• Verify all controls move in the proper sense.
• Check general integrity of the payload system.
2. Structural verification. All aircraft will be lifted with one lift point at each wing tip to verify adequate wing strength (this is "roughly" equivalent to a 2.5g load case) and to check for vehicle cg location. Teams must mark the expected empty and loaded cg locations on the exterior of the aircraft fuselage. Special provisions will be made at the time of the contest for aircraft whose cg does not fall within the wing tip chord. This test will be made with the aircraft filled to its maximum payload capacity by weight (Teams must inform the inspector and judges of their maximum design capacity and must make all flights within that capacity).
3. Radio fail-safe check. All aircraft radios must have a fail-safe mode that is automatically selected during loss of transmit signal. The fail-safe will be demonstrated on the ground by switching off the transmit radio. During fail safe the aircraft receiver must select:
• Throttle closed
• Full up elevator
• Full right rudder
• Full right (or left) aileron
• Full Flaps down (if so equipped)

• The radio Fail Safe provisions will be strictly enforced.

4. All aircraft must have a mechanical motor arming system separate from the onboard radio Rx switch. This may be a mechanical switch rated for the maximum current draw which is accessible from outside the aircraft, or can be a removable link such as an automotive "blade" style fuse. The aircraft Rx should always be powered on and the Tx throttle verified to be "closed" before activating the motor arming switch.

• Steel "Heavy" payload may be comprised of a maximum of 3 steel blocks on any sortie. Teams may have blocks of different weights, and may combine them in any fashion desired to comprise a payload.
• Steel blocks must be rectangular, at least 2 lbs. each, and be painted white. Each block will be weighed and it's weight marked on the block during the technical inspection. The weight assigned during the technical inspection will be used for the competition. Steel blocks may NOT have holes drilled in them for mounting, but must be restrained by some form of edge or cross retainer.
• Tennis balls may NOT be modified. They may not be taped, bolted, screwed or otherwise held together with the exception noted below.
• For both the heavy and light payload teams may employ a removable container or "speed loader". The container must be the same size and design for both payloads, but may employ different means to secure the payload internal to the container. Containers must be "reusable", meaning that they can be opened/closed multiple times (can not be glued shut) and employ reusable mechanical fasteners to secure the payload inside. Teams may be asked to demonstrate removal of the payload from the container by the judges.

• Since the contest requires multiple sorties during each flight period; ground handling, take-off and landing are paramount design considerations.
• Teams may fly multiple sorties within a 10 minute flight period. For each new sortie the team must switch to the opposite mission task. The time to unload and reload the payload for the next sortie is part of the flight period.
• Aircraft will be brought to the flight line to begin the flight period with the payload for the first sortie (mission task) already loaded. Teams will be given a maximum of 2 minutes to place their aircraft on the starting line and prepare for competition before the judges start the timed flight period.
• Aircraft may not have any work performed in the starting line queue, including any charging or replacement of batteries. Aircraft must be "Read to Fly" with no further actions required when they enter the starting queue.
• The aircraft payload must be emptied and reloaded before each additional sortie. Aircraft propulsion system(s) must be disarmed or "safed" during all payload changes.
• Sorties may be repeated as many times as possible provided the aircraft has passed the downwind turn pylon before the time limit for the flight period ends.
• Maximum flight support crew is: pilot, observer, tally person and 3 ground crew. Only the designated ground crew may conduct the unloading/reloading. Pilot and observer may be members of the ground crew, provided total ground crew size remains 3 people. The tally person will be responsible for recording the payload carried on each sortie and verifying the amounts with the contest judge (while the aircraft is on it's next flight lap).
• The upwind turn will be made after passing the upwind pylon. The downwind turn will be made after passing the downwind pylon. Upwind and downwind pylons will be 500 feet from the starting line. Aircraft must be "straight and level" when passing the pylon before initiating the turn.
• Aircraft must land on the paved portion of the runway. Aircraft may "run-off" the runway during roll-out.
• After landing, aircraft may taxi back to the starting line to unload their payload, and reload for the next sortie. Alternatively, aircraft may be carried back to the starting line, however the team may not leave the pit area to retrieve the aircraft until the aircraft has come to a complete stop, and they are signaled it is "Ok" to retrieve the aircraft by the flight line judge.
• Aircraft experiencing minor landing damage may be repaired and fly additional sorties within the flight period. Repairs must be made on the starting line, and may not begin until the payload has been unloaded. Repairs must be completed before the payload is reloaded for the next sortie. All team members may assist in repairs, only ground crew members may reload the aircraft.
• Aircraft will be considered to have only minor damage if they can be repaired and presented as flight worthy within 30 minutes of the end of that flight period. Aircraft with only minor damage will be credited with their full Single Flight Score.
• Aircraft which can be repaired during the competition, but not within 30 minutes of the flight period, will NOT be credited with a score for that flight period.
• Flight altitude must be sufficient for safe terrain clearance and low enough to maintain good visual contact with the aircraft. Decisions on safe flight altitude will be at the discretion of the flight line judges and all rulings will be final.

• Wing span limit is changed to 10 feet.
• No payload may be carried internal to the wing.
• Only brush type electric motors from specified manufacturers are allowed. A physical current limit will be imposed.
• The cost formula is modified..
• Aircraft missions are revised. Aircraft must perform a different mission task on each sortie within the flight period.
• Take off field length is increased to 200 feet (wheels off).
• Report page limits and formats are modified. Sample report scoring worksheet is included.

1. Executive Summary: (5 points): Provide a summary of the development of your design. This should be a narrative description highlighting the major areas in the development process for your final configuration and a broad description of the range of design alternatives investigated. Include an overview of the design tools used for each phase of the design development: conceptual design, preliminary design, and detailed design.
2. Management Summary (5 points): Describe the architecture of the design team. Provide a list of design personnel and assignment areas. Document the management structures used for personnel assignments, schedule control, and configuration control. Include a (single) milestone chart showing planned and actual timing of major elements of the design process, including as a minimum the conceptual design stage, preliminary design stage, detailed design stage, and report preparation periods.
3. Conceptual Design (20 points): Document the alternative concepts investigated during the conceptual design stage. Detail the design parameters investigated, and why each was felt to be important. Describe and document the numerical figures of merit (FOM's) used to screen competing concepts, and the mission feature each FOM was selected to support. Include the values for Rated Aircraft Cost assigned to each concept during the FOM screening process. Numerical data need not be extensive at this stage, but should include as a minimum a final ranking chart giving the quantitative value of each design for each FOM, the FOM importance factors or ranking, and an explanation of the features that produced the final configuration selection.
4. Preliminary Design (20 points): Document the design parameter and sizing trades investigated during the preliminary design stage. Detail the design parameters investigated, and why each was felt to be important. Describe the FOM's used and the mission or design feature each FOM supports. Describe the analytic methods used during the preliminary design stage, the expected accuracy and why each was selected for this design phase. Numerical data will be more extensive at this stage, and should include as a minimum configuration and sizing parameter values sufficient to justify the selection of the final value chosen for each of the major design and sizing parameters. Include a summary of the key features that distinguish the final configuration.
5. Detail Design (20 points): Final performance data should be provided for the design, including take off performance, handling qualities and g load capability, range and endurance, and payload fraction. Component selection and systems architecture should be included in this section. The Drawing Package must contain as a minimum a 3-view drawing of the design in sufficient detail to indicate aircraft size and configuration, primary structure component size and location, and location of propulsion and flight control system components.
6. Manufacturing Plan (10 points): Document the process selected for manufacture of major components and assemblies of the final design. Detail the manufacturing processes investigated, and describe the FOM's used (including but not limited to: availability, required skill levels and cost) to screen competing concepts. Describe the analytic methods (cost, skill matrix, scheduling time lines) used to select the final set of manufacturing processes. Include a manufacturing milestone chart showing scheduled event timings.

Design Report-ADDENDUM PHASE

7. Lessons Learned (10 points): Document any areas where the final contest aircraft differs from the PROPOSAL design. Also identify areas for improvement in the next design and manufacturing process implementation.
8. Aircraft Cost (10 points) Document your final competition aircraft's Rated Aircraft Cost using the contest supplied cost models. Provide a table indicating values for each airframe dependent parameter in the cost model. Provide a table listing manufacturing hours broken down by the supplied WBS structure.

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