Project 2.1.

4 Frame Design – Fuselage

Introduction
Frame construction is used throughout the aerospace industry to create welded
steel-tube fuselages, piston-engine motor mounts, ribs, and landing gear. In this
activity you will design a fuselage for an aircraft to compete in the Red Bull Air
Race. You will only be designing the fuselage so you do not have to worry about the
wing or skin of the aircraft.

Equipment
 Computer with Autodesk® Inventor® installed and access to the internet.

Procedure
1. Your fuselage must meet the following constraints
a. Maximum aircraft length 20 feet
b. Location for one pilot, no passengers
c. Location to mount a single wing with a max wing span of 24.4 feet
d. Mounting surfaces to mount one Lycoming 10-540-A engine
e. Location to mount landing gear
f. Max weight of the fuselage is 300 lbs
2. Vertical and horizontal stabilizer must be part of the fuselage structure
Identify and select an appropriate material or materials for your design.
3. Preliminary frame design sketch

4. Use Autodesk Inventor to create a model of your frame design.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2011
AE – Lesson 2.1 – Project 2.1.4 Frame Design – Fuselage – Page 1
5. Conduct frame analysis to ensure that your frame meets design specifications.
a. The max gross weight of the aircraft when fully fueled and flight ready is
1550 lbs show that the frame will be able to withstand 250% of this weight
at the landing gear mounts.
b. These aircraft have to be able to withstand 15 positive G’s when
performing hard turns. Show the wing mounting surfaces will be able to
withstand the forces of 15 G’s.
6. Calculate the cost of materials needed to produce the frame design.
7. Calculate the overall weight of the frame design.
8. Create a presentation outlining your design, showcasing its benefits, and
explaining why it should be selected for production.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2011
AE – Lesson 2.1 – Project 2.1.4 Frame Design – Fuselage – Page 2