To Design a Pair of Blade Crutches for CH21 Blade Storage/Display

Why does the museum need blade crutches?

Without blade crutches, the blades had to be removed as they are not secured and will be moved by wind and other factors. With blade crutches, blades will be displayed to the public again and a better story of this heroic aircraft can be told.

1. Preference to be removable and resemble design of aircraft, drilling or permanent bolts NOT preferred

2. Tolerance requirements on pin/attachment point should be loose to accommodate for measurement error

3. Durability when exposed to outdoor elements/ resistant to pests (i.e. birds)

4. NOTE: Use of Mounting Points are OPTIONAL

Other factors to consider:

1. Blades will be displayed in fold position instead of fanned out due to space constraint.

2. This particular plane will not fly. It will only be displayed in the museum.

3. There are 3 blades for each blade rotor. So there are 6 blades total.

4. Museum prefers the crutches to be as invisible as possible to not interfere the viewing of the helicopter self.

Judging Criteria

1. §Aesthetics — artistic value of the form, shape, color, texture, finishing, engineering, material used, etc.

2. §Collaboration – how well team collaborated in the project and how team collaborate with stakeholders

3. §Functionality and Utility — ease of use, safety, maintenance; Design meets the intended purpose and needs of the user

4. §Innovation — does the design stand out, provide something new to the market or supplement/improve an existing product or service?

5. §Presentation and Communication – how well the design is presented and communicated out to the audience

6. §Reality of production — how realistic is it, technically and economically, to bring this design to production and broad-scale use

7. §Adjustability — including adjustability in mounting point locations is a bonus, but not a requirement

PRIZEs for winning teams

Grand Prize - $900

First Place for Each School - $600

Reference Photos (1)

Presentation Slides- Additional Information