XP-53 Peregrine (RC Plane)

thingiverse

Edit: Added a screenshot of the new working model of the plane, which I'll be refining over the coming weeks. The XP-53 "Peregrine" is a fully functional RC plane that I've built from scratch. While it's not yet complete, I've assembled most of its components, including the parachute assemblies. However, I'm holding off on flying it until summer arrives and I can find a suitable open space to test it. I'm not an aerospace expert, but I've done extensive research over the past year, which has given me a good understanding of how planes work. Unfortunately, this learning curve is evident in some design decisions, such as the FPV camera holder's aerodynamics, and other parts that might not be the best choice. Despite my uncertainty about its flight capabilities, I'll update this page once I've had a chance to test it. To get an idea of its performance, I've run simulations using Autodesk Flow, which indicates a theoretical drag coefficient of around 0.3 (mediocre but not bad). I've also created a Google Sheet that auto-runs physics equations related to air thermodynamics, drag, lift, and terminal velocity. Using these calculations and my own data from a working prototype, the Peregrine should be able to fly at speeds over 50-60 miles per hour. In fact, my calculations suggest it could reach top speeds of just over 100 miles per hour, although I think 80 or 90 is more realistic. Here are some key stats for this plane: Total Mass: ~1.63 kg Static Thrust: 5.7 N Thrust to Weight Ratio: 0.357 Top Speed: ~100 mph Cruising Speed (3 degree AoA): 48.6 mph The Peregrine also has contingency plans in case something goes wrong during flight. Plan B involves using the self-balancing mode of its 6-axis gyro to prevent crashing, while Plan C is a last resort that involves jettisoning a parachute from one of two capsules atop the plane, reducing its terminal velocity to below 10 mph. I named this plane XP-53 as a tribute to the real-life XP-54, which was designed by Vultee in the early 1940s for the U.S. Air Force. While I had no idea about the XP-54 until recently, my plane shares some similarities with it. You can find more information about the XP-54 on its Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultee_XP-54 I've included STL and STEP files for every part of the plane, making it easy to print or modify.