PFR - Aerospace Engineering Sciences Senior Design Projects ...

Project Final Report – CUDBF April 30 th , 2009
ASEN 4028: Aerospace Senior Projects
the takeoff roll and rotation. For any future asymmetric loads, the pilot decided to use some
opposite aileron input to counteract the asymmetric load.
13.2.2.14 Flight Test #21
Flight test #21 was the first flight of the Buff-2C aircraft. The purpose of this flight test was to
get the aircraft airborne and find out if there were any major issues before competition. The pilot
reported the plane was trimmed, and that the aircraft had plenty of thrust at the lower density
altitude.
13.2.2.15 Flight Test #22 (Competition flight #1)
The goal of this flight test was to successfully complete competition mission #1 at the DBF
competition. The requirement tested was to complete two laps under 2:00. On this flight, the
pilot pushed the aircraft harder than he ever had, and the time to complete two laps from takeoff
to crossing the finish line was 1:43, 15 seconds faster than before. The flight ended in a good
landing. A picture of the Buff-2C shortly after takeoff is shown in Figure 139.
Figure 139: Buff-2C after takeoff on mission #1 at DBF competition
13.2.2.16 Flight Test #23 (Competition flight #2)
The goal of this flight test was to successfully complete competition mission #2 at the DBF
competition. The two requirements to be tested were the 100ft takeoff with full payload weight,
and the four lap range with full payload weight. The aircraft was able to lift off at approximately
90ft, verifying the 100ft takeoff requirement at a 5,000ft density altitude. This was the distance
that the aircraft was designed to takeoff in. After takeoff, the pilot noticed he was holding a lot of
up elevator, and decided to reduce up elevator in order to avoid a stall. This caused the nose of
the aircraft to drop significantly resulting in a crash.
The primary reason for this crash was lack of pilot experience flying with the full water bottle. It
was deemed a very risky flight, and there was very little time available to test fly with this
152