During an extensive trip through Southern Africa, the project shifted away from the workshop and onto the screen. My CAD software runs as a standalone version on my laptop, allowing me to work without an internet connection. The power was continuously supplied by the solar panels. I spent numerous uninterrupted hours redesigning the wing from scratch while simultaneously familiarising myself with the new CAD program, SolidWorks.
Lake Malawi
The curved main spars presented some challenges when it came to accurately drawing them according to the original construction plans. I had to gather various dimension references from drawings of other components to get everything right.
At first glance, the shape of the elevon seems simple, but it turns out to be highly complex. The intersection of the wing profile with the radius of the elevon leading edge creates a form that is solvable in CAD, but will likely cause a fair amount of headaches during the manufacturing process.
The control of the elevon is achieved through a direct pushrod connection via bellcranks to a control horn. The trim tab is operated by a cable-pulley-screw gear-excentric linkage mechanism. The pivot point of the eccentric lever provides damping, which influences the flight stability.
