The objective for this year was to design, build, and test an aircraft to execute electronic warfare (EW) missions. Flight missions included staging of the aircraft, surveillance, and jamming.
Ground Mission
The Ground Mission tested the structural strength of the aircraft. Teams entered with the aircraft and all components inside the shipping box, selected their wing set via coin flips, and had 10 minutes to complete the test. The assembly crew member had to install the heaviest payload configuration (as declared in tech inspection), attach the structural test fixture to the wing tips, and apply increasing weights to the fuselage. After the final test weight was applied, the aircraft had to hold the load for 30 seconds while the pilot verified that the flight controls were still functioning. The total supported weight (test weight plus aircraft weight) was recorded. If any structural failure or loss of control function occurred, the attempt was invalid. Scoring was based on the total test weight divided by the maximum aircraft weight.
Mission 1
Mission 1 served as the baseline flight and did not include any payload. Teams brought the aircraft to the staging area inside the shipping box and performed two coin flips to randomly determine which wing set (L1/L2 and R1/R2) would be used. The aircraft was required to take off within a 60-foot runway, complete 3 laps in under 5 minutes, and land successfully to earn a score. A lap was counted each time the aircraft crossed the start/finish line in the air. The landing was not included in the timed portion. Teams received 1.0 point for a successful flight.
Mission 2
In Mission 2, the aircraft carried an Electronics Package as its payload. As in Mission 1, teams transported the aircraft in the shipping box and used coin flips to determine the wing set. They were given 10 minutes to complete as many laps as possible. Scoring was based on the product of payload weight and number of laps. After the flight, the aircraft and payload were weighed to confirm the payload was at least 30% of the aircraft’s gross weight as flown. A successful landing was required for the flight to be scored.
Mission 3
For Mission 3, the payload was a vertically mounted Jamming Antenna. Once again, the wing set was determined via coin flips. The antenna had to be mounted on the wingtip opposite the flight line, as directed by the flight line judge. The length of the antenna was recorded before flight. Teams were given 5 minutes to complete 3 timed laps, with scoring based on the ratio of antenna length to mission time. Time started when the throttle was advanced, and stopped when the aircraft crossed the start/finish line in the air after the third lap. As always, a successful landing was required to earn points.
Aircraft Requirements
2024 Specific: The general rules required that all components of the airplane, including payloads and batteries, had to fit inside a checked airline-compliant shipping box with external dimensions totaling up to 62 inches (length + width + height) and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. Each team was required to provide two sets of wing sections (left and right), marked as “L1”, “L2”, “R1”, and “R2,” with the combined span of each left-right pair making up at least 80% of the aircraft’s full wingspan. The mission payloads varied: Mission 1 had no payload; Mission 2 used a self-supplied Electronics Package; and Mission 3 required a Jamming Antenna made from 0.5-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe. The payloads had to meet specific size, weight, and installation requirements. The Jamming Antenna, for example, had to be mounted vertically on a wingtip and was not allowed to extend below the wing.
Aircraft were required to be fixed-wing, propeller-driven, and electric-powered; rotary-wing and lighter-than-air designs were not permitted. All aircraft had to comply with AMA regulations, which included a maximum takeoff gross weight of 55 pounds and use of a certified AMA pilot. Each team had to demonstrate that their exact competition aircraft had completed a successful flight before the contest. Motors had to be unmodified commercial electric units. Only one battery pack could be connected to each propulsion system, and all batteries had to be inspected. Propulsion energy was capped at 100 Wh. LiPo batteries had to be stored and transported in fireproof charging bags, and teams were required to use externally mounted arming fuses. Aircraft also needed a mechanical “safing” device (arming fuse) and a radio fail-safe system that, upon signal loss, defaulted to throttle closed, full up elevator, full right rudder and aileron, and full flaps down. These rules are consistent each year.
Scores
We placed 111 out of 110 teams invited, missing the 2023 competition by one place.