building a model airplane need help?

Question

ok i want to make a model airplan out of styrofoam. but also i want to put and model rocket engine in it to make it fly. If i add weights to it to keep it balanced will it fly. what angles do the wings need to be and the tail. i am only 15 and want to get into aerospcae. any tips for me will help. i am going to base my model of a fight jet.

Answer 1

A couple of things:

1) The centerline of the thrust from the rocket engine must pass through the center of gravity of the airplane. If not the rocket engine may cause the airplane to spin uncontrollably.

2) Make sure that your plane is stable in flight before using the rocket power. When testing for stability, use a rocket motor (for proper weight balance), just don't ignite it until you are sure that the design is stable

3) Make sure that the engine mount for the rocket motor is capable of withstanding the thrust from the rocket motor. You don't want the rocket motor to take off and leave the airplane behind.

4) When you finally do use a real rocket motor, start off with the smallest you can get, a 1/2A for example. If you can get a stable flight with a small rocket motor, move to the next larger one and try that.

5) SAFETY FIRST!!!
Launch vertically and use all standard rocket safety procedures. You can find that info on most any model rocket site.