By

S. M. Anwarul Aziz
Lecturer
AIB.
PRO
Runway 32.
Outline
 Components of an Aircraft

 Basic Definitions

 Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-1)

 Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-2)

 Rules of Thumb for RC Aircrafts (Method-3)

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 Additional Considerations
Components of an aircraft

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 Basic Definitions
 Aspect Ratio, AR
𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏
AR = 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒅
𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏𝟐
= 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂

• Glider = 7 - 10
• Trainer =5-7
4
• Fighter =3-5
Basic Definitions (cont…)
𝑊
 Wing Loading 𝑆
Weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing.
e.g. Boeing 787 : Weight = 228,000 kg
Wing Area = 325 m2
𝟐𝟐𝟖𝟎𝟎𝟎
Wing Loading = 𝟑𝟐𝟓
= 701.54 kg/m2
= 70.154 gm/cm2
𝑇
 Thrust to Weight Ratio 𝑊
Thrust provided by powerplant divided by weight of the aircraft
e.g. Boeing 787 : Max Thrust = 57,084.6 kg
Weight = 228,000 kg
T/W Ratio = 0.25 5
Rules of Thumb
(Method – 1)
1. Estimating Weight
2. Wing Loading Calculations
3. Wing Area and Other Wing Parameters
4. Empennage Design
5. Fuse Length
6. Wing and Empennage Position
7. Control Surface Sizing 6
8. Required Thrust
1. Estimating Weight
• Estimate a weight for your RC.
• As a beginner, it is a good idea to start
with a low weight.

• e.g. Model Weight, W = 900 grams

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2. Wing Loading Calculations
• Pick a Wing Loading for your Aircraft type:
• Glider = 10 oz/ft2 = 3.05 kg/m2= 0.305 gm/cm2

• Trainer = 15 oz/ft2 = 4.58 kg/m2 = 0.458 gm/cm2

• Fighter = 20 oz/ft2 = 6.10 kg/m2 = 0.610 gm/cm2

** We will go for a Trainer in this session.

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3. Wing Area and Other
Wing Parameters
• Get Wing AREA (S) from Model Weight
(W) and Wing Loading (𝑊/𝑆)

• Choose Aspect Ratio (AR) according to

your Aircraft type [i.e. Glider, Trainer,
Fighter]

Get Wing SPAN (b) and Wing CHORD (C) 9

from Aspect Ratio (AR) and Wing AREA (S)
3. Wing Area and Other Wing
Parameters (cont…)
• Model Weight, W = 900 grams
• Wing Loading (𝑊/𝑆) = 0.458 gm/cm2
900
• So, Wing Area, S = = 1965.07 cm2
0.458

• Let, AR = 6 [as, AR for Trainer = 5 – 7]

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝒃𝟐
 = =6
𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝑺

Wing Span, b = 6 𝑥 1965.07 = 108.58 cm

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𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 1965.07
Wing Chord, C = = = 18.10 cm
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛 108.58
4. Empennage Design
• Get Horizontal Tail AREA (SHT) and
Vertical Tail AREA (SVT) from the following
approximations:
Horizontal Tail AREA, SHT = 20 – 25% of
Wing AREA (S)
Take Aspect Ratio (AR) 3 or 4
Get Horizontal Tail SPAN (bHT) and
Horizontal Tail CHORD (CHT) from Aspect
Ratio (AR) and AREA (SHT)
Vertical Tail AREA, SVT = 7 – 11% of Wing 11
AREA (S)
4. Empennage Design (cont…)
• Wing Area, S = 1965.07 cm2
• So, SHT = 22% of S [SHT = 20 – 25% of S]
 SHT = 1965.07 x 22% = 432.32 cm2

• Let, AR = 3
𝑯𝑻 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝑏𝐻𝑇 𝟐
 𝑯𝑻 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 = 𝑺𝑯𝑻
=3
HT Span, bHT = 3 𝑥 432.32 = 32.01 cm
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 432.32
HT Chord, CHT = = = 13.51 cm
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑛 32.01

• And, SVT = 9% of S [SHT = 7 – 11% of S] 12

 SVT = 1965.07 x 9% = 176.86 cm2
5. Fuse Length
• Calculate Fuse Length from the following
approximation:

 Fuse Length = 75% of Wing SPAN (b)

 Fuse Height = 10 – 15% of Fuse Length

• e.g. Wing Span, b = 108.58 cm

• So, Fuse Length = 75% of b
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 Fuse Length = 108.58 x 75% = 81.44 cm
6. Wing and Empennage Position
• Wing position and Horizontal Tail position
may be found from the following
approximations:

Wing leading edge to Propeller or,

The NOSE LENGTH = 1 – 1.5 times the Wing Chord (C)

Wing trailing edge to the Elevator = 2 – 3 times the Wing

Chord (C)
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6. Wing and Empennage Position
(cont…)
• Wing Chord, C = 18.10 cm

Wing leading edge to Propeller or,

The NOSE LENGTH = 1 X 18.10 cm = 18.10 cm

Wing trailing edge to the Elevator

= 2 X 18.10 cm = 36.20 cm

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 Summing Up

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Summing Up

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7. Control Surface Sizing
• Calculate Control Surface Area as
follows:

𝟏
Aileron Area= 2 x 𝟏𝟔
of Wing Area
𝟏
Elevator Area = of HT Area
𝟒

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8. Required Thrust
• Get a Motor based on Estimated weight of your RC
and your Aircraft type.
• Assume motor efficiency = 80 – 90%
• So, Thrust Required for a:
Trainer type = 1.10 X Estimated weight of RC
Fighter type = 2.30 X Estimated weight of RC

• e.g. Model Weight = 900 grams

Motor Required = 1.10 x 900 = 990 grams 19
Additional Considerations
• Powerplant should be placed as such that,
we get
2 – 3o Right Thrust
2 – 3o Down Thrust

• Better to place the wing at a 3 – 4o

incident.
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Rules of Thumb
(Method – 2)
1. Available Thrust
2. Estimating Weight
3. Wing Loading Calculations
4. Wing Area and Other Wing Parameters
5. Empennage Design
6. Fuse Length
7. Wing and Empennage Position
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8. Control Surface Sizing
Summing Up
 Thrust for Trainer type = 1.10 X Est. Weight of RC
 Pick a Wing Loading for your Aircraft type: Trainer =
0.458 gm/cm2
 Choose Aspect Ratio (AR) according to your Aircraft
type [i.e. Glider, Trainer, Fighter]
 Get Wing SPAN (b) and Wing CHORD (C) from
Aspect Ratio (AR) and Wing AREA (S)
 Horizontal Tail AREA, SHT = 20 – 25% of Wing AREA
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(S)
Summing Up
 Take Aspect Ratio (AR) 3 or 4
 Get HT SPAN (bHT) and HT CHORD (CHT) from AR and SHT
 Vertical Tail AREA, SVT = 7 – 11% of Wing AREA (S)
 Fuse Length = 75% of Wing SPAN (b)
 The NOSE LENGTH = 1 – 1.5 times the Wing Chord (C)
 Wing trailing edge to Elevator = 2 – 3 times the Wing
Chord (C)
 Aileron Area = 1/16 of Wing Area
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 Elevator Area = 1/4 of HT Area
Rules of Thumb
(Method – 3)
• Download full plans from Internet.

• http://www.parkjets.com/free-plans

• http://www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net/

• http://www.flitetest.com/

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