AERO3002 Proposal
Name: Luofei Sun Student Number: 101032985 PASession: L2
The main objective of this proposal is to describe and demonstrate the main design requirements that can
affect the conceptual design of a VTOL CAAM aircraft. In this design, the requirements includes: range,
engine, weight, VTOL ability, comfort and the mobility. Because the aircraft will cruise at a speed of 100-300
knots with a range of 300 km plus 30 km divert range, and the aircraft should perform vertical take off and
land in a 20 m x 20 m square. So the expected wing is straight wing and both the wing spam and the length of
the fuselage should be less than 20 meters. In addition, because the aircraft needs to perform VTOL, and it
should carry 5 men and 100 kg baggage, the materials of aircraft should be as light as possible. The engine is
crucial in designing this aircraft because the VTOL capability, the engines must be able to rotate so that it does
not need a runway to take off and land. Finally, in order to provide comfort to the passengers, the noise from
the engine should be reduced to as minimum as possible.[1]
Based off the research on the CAAM aircraft, multiple potential concepts were sketched to be solved the
design requirements and achieve the design mission. The main concept of this chosen design was inspired by
the Chengdu WZ-7 UAV, and it is redesigned to keep the requirements and constraints stated in project outline
in consideration.[2] There is a full glass cockpit for the pilot, a passenger cabin for 4 passengers and then a
baggage bay. There will be two doors on each side of the aircraft, and a baggage bay door at the back. The
wing is a straight joined wing configuration which can significantly reduce the weight, and increase the
stiffness and mobility in low speed. Also, because the importance of comfort during flight, the aircraft is an
electric aircraft and all batteries are located inside the wing. Finally, the turbine propellers are used to reduce
the noise and they can be rotated to perform VTOL.[3]
As stated in the project description, the cruise speed of the aircraft is very low which is less than 300 knots
and has a service ceiling of 3000 m ASL, the range requirement is around 330 km. The ideal wing
configuration is straight wing with a wing span of 18 m and the length of the fuselage is 15 m, with 4 meter
width and 5 meter height. There is also a 4 m 45 degrees V shape tail and the weather radar is located at the
front of the gap under the tail. This aircraft also has stalk speed at 61 kts, so strake wing and edge flaps will be
applied to control the aircraft in low speed and low attitude. The deicing system and environment system for
cabin and battery bay must be applied because the aircraft requires to operate during Canada’s freezing winter.
In the design, there are two rotate ducted fan propellers, one at each side of the fuselage. During VTOL, the
two 5 m diameter propeller will be locked at 0 degrees then they will slowly rotate to 90 degrees during the
transition to cruise flight, finally once in cruise flight, the propellers will be locked at 90 degrees. In the end,
based on the consideration of comfort and weight, the electric ducted turbine propeller was chosen over
turbofan and piston engine. In conclusion, the design of this aircraft can reach and achieve all requirements
and constraints for a VTOL CAAM aircraft.
[1]Aerospace Design and Practice. Available:https://brightspace.carleton.ca/d2l/le/content/55665/viewContent/2335872/View
[2]A.Rupprecht&G.Dominguez,Chinese air force equips 16th Air Division with WZ-7 HALE UAVs Available:
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinese-air-force-equips-16th-air-division-with-wz-7-hale-uavs
[3] S.Glegg, W.Devenport, Fan Noise,2017, Available :https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128096512000187
