Flight Endurance

Description

In this event, you'll be tasked with designing, building, and flying an aircraft that can stay aloft for the longest time while meeting specific design criteria and the annual theme. You’ll also submit a detailed portfolio documenting your engineering process from initial concepts to final flight testing. If you advance to the semifinals, you’ll participate in an interview with the judges to explain your design decisions, flight strategy, and problem-solving methods.

You’ll construct your aircraft using materials such as balsa wood, foam, carbon fiber rods, adhesives, and lightweight coverings. Basic understanding of aerodynamics, structural design, and flight mechanics is helpful but not required to begin. This event is beginner-friendly and provides opportunities to learn about lift, drag, propulsion, stability, and efficient design.

For Flight Endurance, teams submit their completed aircraft and printed portfolio in person at the conference. Flight testing happens on-site during scheduled times, where your plane’s endurance is evaluated. If you advance, you’ll participate in an interview with judges to discuss your design, challenges, and improvements. There are no separate online submissions or remote deadlines for this event.

2 to 6 people can be on a team!

Find the event rubric here: Event Rubrics & Forms.

This event has past portfolios available here: Past Portfolios.

What to Know?

How to use basic aerodynamics and building materials

Understanding principles like lift, drag, thrust, and weight is essential. Beginner-friendly resources and kits can help you get started. More advanced teams might explore wing design, propulsion systems, or stability controls, but starting simple is totally fine.

Basic mechanical and assembly skills

Experience working with lightweight materials like balsa wood, foam, carbon fiber, and adhesives will help when constructing and fine-tuning your aircraft. Knowing how to balance weight and strengthen joints improves flight performance.

Basic flight testing and adjustment skills

You don’t need to be a professional pilot, but learning how to conduct flight tests, make trim adjustments, and optimize your plane’s balance will help you maximize endurance and stability.

What to Submit?

Portfolio (Printed)

Title page (with team name, event title, year, and conference location)
Table of contents
Design brief or problem statement
Sketches, diagrams, or CAD drawings of the aircraft
Work log (dates, tasks completed, and team roles)
Materials and components list
Test flight data and performance observations
Risk and safety considerations
Reflection or self-evaluation
References (if applicable)

Completed Aircraft/ Optional Documents

Your completed aircraft, which you will present and fly during the in-person conference challenge. Your goal is to achieve the longest, most stable flight possible according to the event rules.
Optional: A short flight video
- Having a video of a successful test flight can be useful in case your drone experiences any issues during live demonstration.
Optional: A personal document or notes
- For first timers, having a summary of key details (what your drone does, challenges faced, things to mention) can help before the interview.

Tools & Resources

Key Parts:

Rubber Motor - Twisted rubber band that stores potential energy to spin the propeller and power flight.
Propeller - Converts energy from the rubber motor into thrust; pitch and diameter impact efficiency.
Wing - Provides lift; often built from balsa wood with tissue covering. Longer wingspans increase duration.
Fuselage - Central body structure that holds the motor, wings, and tail components in alignment.
Tail Assembly - Includes stabilizers and rudder for balance and control in flight.
Landing Gear - Lightweight wheels or skids required for takeoff and optional landing bonus.
Hook and Bearing Assembly - Holds the rubber motor in place and allows it to wind and unwind smoothly.
Motor Stick - Reinforced section inside the fuselage that holds and supports the wound rubber motor.
Winder - A separate handheld tool used to pre-wind the rubber motor before launch.

Useful Applications:

FoilSim (NASA)
- Simulates airflow over wings
- Helps analyze lift, drag, and pressure changes with different airfoil shapes
Airfoil Tools (airfoiltools.com)
- Huge database of 1,600+ airfoil profiles
- Let's you compare and analyze airfoil performance for wings and stabilizers
GeoGebra
- Geometry and physics modeling app
- Useful for calculating center of gravity, angles, and lift vectors
Onshape
- Cloud-based 3D CAD tool
- Design wings, fuselage, and structure precisely and share with teammates
Tracker Video Analysis
- Open-source software for motion tracking
- Analyze flight path, time aloft, and performance of test flights
Desmos
- Online graphing calculator
- Model lift-to-drag ratios, torque curves, or rubber band energy calculations
FlightTest.com
- Hobbyist site with free guides and flight tutorials
- Great for learning flight basics, wing configuration tips, and DIY ideas

Helpful Terminology

Rubber-Powered Propulsion - The energy source for the plane — a twisted rubber band that powers the propeller as it unwinds.
Flight Duration - The total time (in seconds) your plane remains airborne during a flight attempt.
Trim Flights - Test flights used to fine-tune flight performance before official timed rounds.
Wing Loading - The weight of the aircraft divided by the wing area — affects how easily the plane can stay aloft.
Dihedral - The upward angle of the wings from horizontal — increases stability in flight.
Center of Gravity (CG) - The balance point of the plane — critical for stable flight.
Thrust Line - The direction of the propeller's force — affects pitch and flight path.
Propeller Pitch - How far the propeller would move in one rotation through air — determines efficiency and speed.
Torque - Twisting force from the wound rubber motor that spins the propeller.

Washout - A slight twist in the wing tips to reduce stalling — helps stabilize flight.
Incidence Angle - The angle between the wing and the fuselage — affects lift and glide.
Glide Ratio - The ratio of forward distance traveled to altitude lost — a higher ratio means more efficient flight.
Launch Technique - How you release the plane — affects angle of ascent and initial trajectory.
Wingspan - The distance from one wingtip to the other — longer wings generally improve lift.
Fuselage - The central body of the plane where the wings, tail, and propeller are attached.
Empennage - The tail section of the plane — includes horizontal and vertical stabilizers.
Stall - When airflow over the wing breaks down, causing loss of lift and a drop in altitude.
Landing Bonus - An extra 10 seconds added to a flight if the plane lands on its wheels.
Flight Box - A protective container (max 25×40×60 cm) required to transport your plane.

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