Aeromodelling: Let your Dreams, Take Flight

Aeromodelling can be the first step for venture into the field of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which has numerous engineering applications such as video surveillance, intelligence, remote sensing etc. It is an amazing module for self articulation, which leads the person to a successful career as a Pilot, Aircraft Designer, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Aero-Space Engineer etc.

What is Aeromodelling?

Aeromodelling involves the activities such as design, development and flying of small air vehicles. The objects such as Radio Controlled Aircraft, Ornithopters (a machine that flies by flapping its wings), paper planes, etc. are contained in the modeling. We can learn, relate the concepts of science and engineering principles. It helps to understand all the fundamental principles of Flight, how and why an aircraft flies. 

History of Aeromodelling

Aeromodelling activity was started in the nineteenth century by Dr. Thomas Young. He discovered the lifting property of cambered surface in comparison to flat surface.

Streams involved in Aeromodelling

Aeromodelling involves a lot of interdisciplinary concepts of various engineering streams such as Mechanical, Electrical, Aeronautical, Electronics, and Computer Science, but majorly it involves Aerospace/ Aeronautical engineering topics.

Types of Aero Models

There are two types of aero models: Powered Models and Unpowered Models.

Powered Models: The powered models can fly with the help of engines and propellers. Most of the flying models can be categorized into groups.

• Free flight (F/F) model aircraft fly without any method of external control from the ground.

• Control line (C/L) model aircraft use cables leading from the wing to the pilot.

• Radio-controlled aircraft contains a transmitter operated by the controller, sending signals to a receiver in the model which in turn actuates servos. Servos manipulate the model's flight controls in a similar manner to a full sized aircraft.

Propellers: Powered aero models, including electric, internal-combustion, and rubber-band powered models, generate propel by rotating an airscrew. Propeller is commonly used to generate force due to the angle of offensive blades, which forces air backwards. Due to this, the plane moves forward.

 

Unpowered models: The unpowered models are operated without any engines.  They can remain flying for a specific period of time without committed force. They can be classified as fixed-wing gliders, lighter-than-air balloons and tethered kites. Parachutes require a route, not just a vertical drop. Due to powerless gliders, flight persists through exploitation of natural wind in the surroundings. 

 

Aero Models used in Advertising

Many airlines permit their aircraft models for promotional uses. These include Delta Air Lines, Air France, British Airways, Avianca, Aeroméxico, FedEx, Polar Air Cargo, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, South African Airways, Finnair, American Airlines,  Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Korean Airlines, and Asiana Airlines, etc. 

Benefits of Aero Modeling

Aero modeling helps to improve hand and eye coordination, understand the importance of team work, learn to cope with success and failure, create 3D objects, learn to work with plans, use hand tools etc. Also it gives immense feel of Achievement, High Confidence & Self Esteem. It ignites the Right-Brain Activity and promotes better learning. It helps to improve Logical Reasoning Capabilities of the person. Youngsters can be educated to an exciting field of science that trains them to live a life full of Thrill & Excitement and to become a role model for others in their community.

 

So, Aeromodelling has a lot to offer for the technocrats with the desire to sharpen their multi-disciplinary skills and apply them. And unlike the trendy conviction, Aeromodelling is not just for faddy flyers!

 

About Author

Prof. Supriya Sawwashere is Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science Engineering  & Information Technology. She has 14 years of experience. Her areas of interest include Theory of Computations, Computer Security and Computer Graphics.