Speedfest X, OSU Black 2021: Critical design review

Abstract

The 2021 Speedfest challenge was to design, build, and prove a new remotely piloted racing aircraft powered by a small jet engine and designed to complete as many laps on a 1000ft pylon course as possible in three minutes. Additionally, the aircraft had to perform a four minute aerobatics show as well as fit a box suitable for transport. Finally, the aircraft was judged based upon its desirability for purchase by experienced pylon racing pilots. In order to meet this challenge, I led a team of 20 students to analyze, design, build, and test such an aircraft in three short months. After breaking down the mission requirements, performance calculations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to evaluate the merits of each conceptual design. Once a single concept was narrowed down and verified through wind tunnel testing, it was prototyped using the latest composites fabrication techniques and new techniques were developed specific to this aircraft. Finally, once the prototype was proven viable, serial production was started to produce three additional aircraft for the contest utilizing lessons learned along the way. On the competition day, despite early troubles with the turbojet engines, the team ended the day with top scores in every category.