SPAROW

SPAROW Manta Ray

Subsonic Performance Aircraft with Reliable Optimized Wings

SPAROW is SHC’s competition team centered around the yearly Design/Build/Fly (DBF) competition hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Members design and manufacture a radio-controlled aircraft that can best meet both the design requirements and the performance objectives of that year.

Alongside the plane, the team will make and present a scored Proposal, Design Report, and proof of flight before heading off to competition to execute one ground and three flight missions.

This project aims for undergraduates to apply knowledge from their classes into a physical application, such as applying MAE 200 lift and drag knowledge to the design of the aircraft.

AIAA Design Build Fly Competition

Each year, AIAA provides teams with a new set of aircraft design requirements and mission objectives. SPAROW works through the design, manufacturing, testing, and flight process to develop an aircraft capable of completing those objectives at competition.

The competition concludes with one ground mission and three flight missions that evaluate the aircraft against that year's performance objectives.

Manta Ray

SPAROW worked through all the initial design, airframe analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and testing to fly Manta Ray at competition.

Design

The aircraft begins as a digital design where the team develops the airframe and integrated systems around the year's DBF requirements and mission objectives.