INNOVATIVE AERODYNAMIC DESIGN INSPIRED BY THE CESSNA A37 DRAGONFLY: A MODERN APPROACH
Keywords:
aerodynamics, drag, design, experimental, lift, stability, wind tunnelDOI:
https://doi.org/10.17654/0973468625004Abstract
Inspired by the Cessna A37, the present article offers a thorough aerodynamic assessment of a model aircraft carried out under controlled subsonic settings in a systematic wind tunnel testing program. Over several wind speeds (5 to 25m/s) and angles of attack (AOA), the study concentrated on important aerodynamic characteristics like lift, drag, moments, and stability. While at an AOA of 15 deg, lift increased greatly from 0.54 to 1.33, accompanied by a drag coefficient rise from 0.0 to 0.6, at a zero-degree AOA, the lift coefficient ranged from –0.39 to 0.98. Especially at an AOA of 25 deg, lift increased to a maximum of 2.79 and a matching drag coefficient of 2.64. These differences were investigated to find their reliance on AOA and wind speed. The results highlight the aerodynamic efficiency of the model and possible relevance for subsonic flight, therefore providing important new perspectives on lift-to-drag performance ratios over operational situations. The study concludes by highlighting the model’s general usefulness and viability in a number of aeronautical applications, while also highlighting critical design issues such as construction techniques and material selections that are critical to optimizing the model’s performance for both manned and unmanned aircraft operations.
Received: April 6, 2025
Accepted: May 20, 2025
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