Hammerhead: An X-VTOL Design Project
Design driver: Design an aircraft capable of both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and high cruise speeds
Team Composition
Project Requirements
Results
Hammerhead images copyright 2014 Hammerhead Design Team
Team Composition
- Worked in a team of eight graduate students
- Focused primarily on mechanicals: brakes, clutches, landing gear, powertrain, engine, cooling, etc.
Project Requirements
- High-speed rotorcraft capable of VTOL flight at high (75%) hover efficiency
- Designed rotor brake, landing gear, clutch, generators, and powertrain
- Used real-world components as surrogates to validate design & sizing
- Maximum takeoff weight: 12,000 lbs.
- Cruise speed: 315 KTAS at 12,000 ft. MSL
Results
- Design study only
Hammerhead images copyright 2014 Hammerhead Design Team