1. Executive Summary
May advanced Spearhead through prototype flight testing, aerodynamic database delivery, flight-mechanics integration, and electrical architecture definition. The Stork testbed reached flight status and completed hover, transition attempts, RTL-assisted return, and an approximately 4.5 minute successful flight. ADB v1.1, SakeDB, Nondimit, and the related information notes were delivered as the current technical baseline for geometry, aerodynamic coefficients, and database repeatability. The flight dynamics model began using the drag-corrected ADB table, and the Phase 1 electrical layout was captured around 12S power distribution, CAN topology, servo power, tail electronics, telemetry, and open interface decisions. VTOL motors, ESCs, propellers, and spares were ordered. The main June carryovers are final wing and attachment design, electrical layout closure, flight model review, and control-surface delta database generation.
2. Project Progress
Team Formation
| Member | Experience Level | Team | Weekly Commitment (hrs) | Areas of Expertise / Championed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alperenag | Level 5 | Core | 32 | Project Lead |
| Erick | Level 4 | Core | 15 | Electrical Layout & Avionics |
| Zeynep | Level 4 | Core | 30 | Flight Mechanics |
Progress Overview
May was split across testbed, aerodynamic database, flight-mechanics, and electrical tracks. The Stork quadplane was assembled, integrated, and successfully flown, giving the team practical QuadPlane, ArduPilot, telemetry, and transition experience before the main aircraft. The Spearhead preliminary aerodynamic database was delivered with SakeDB, Nondimit, and information notes in the GitHub repository. The flight dynamics model advanced with ADB integration, trim and open-loop scripts, and tests. Electrical planning advanced through a Phase 1 electrical master document and open-question list covering power topology, CAN layout, tail electronics, servo supply, telemetry, and component-location decisions. Structural design continued, but the final wing and attachment design was pushed into early June after the database, laser-cutter preparation, and Stork work consumed most of the month.
3. Major Studies
Stork Quadplane Build and Flight Testing
The Stork quadplane testbed reached flight-test status in Ankara after structural assembly and avionics integration. Testing covered hover, transition attempts, RTL-assisted return, and an approximately 4.5 minute successful flight, giving direct QuadPlane configuration, transition workflow, and log-review experience before Spearhead flight testing.
Aerodynamic Database Delivery
ADB v1.1 was delivered as the first full-airframe aerodynamic source for Spearhead. The database uses 80 actuator-disk-model cases and 800 baseline cases, covers alpha and beta from -90 to +90 deg at 1 deg resolution, and provides 32,761 coefficient rows. The final table includes the selected moment reference center and 1.3x wind-frame drag correction, and it is now the aerodynamic source for the flight dynamics model.
Aerodynamic Database Tools: SakeDB and Nondimit
SakeDB and Nondimit were published under src/tools so the aerodynamic database workflow can be repeated and audited. SakeDB covers case setup, external-runner execution, sample tracking, candidate scoring, and dense export. Nondimit covers dense-table to coefficient-table conversion, body/wind-frame outputs, moment-center shifting, and correction controls.
Preliminary Design Information Notes
The preliminary design information notes define the public technical baseline for the current Spearhead geometry. They document the high-wing quadplane layout, inverse V-tail, longitudinal booms, reference geometry, CAD/view assets, and sizing configuration, separating the geometry baseline from the database/tooling deliverables above.
Electrical Architecture and Open Questions
The Phase 1 electrical master document captured the 12S high-voltage bus, VTOL ESC wiring, avionics and servo regulation, kill-switch options, CAN topology, tail electronics, telemetry, health monitoring, and component locations. Open interfaces remain boom and bay dimensions, servo torque, ground-station choice, and wing-panel connector standard.
Electrical Master | Open Questions
Flight Mechanics and Stability Model
The flight dynamics model tool adds a Python 6-DOF model that loads the ADB v1.1 drag-corrected table, converts body-axis coefficients to forces and moments, shifts moments to CG, and includes open-loop and trim scripts with tests. Control increments remain provisional because ADB v1.1 only covers alpha and beta; the next aerodynamic-data need is a control-surface delta database over alpha, beta, and deflection.
Structural Design and Manufacturing Preparation
Wing, boom, and attachment design stayed in active redesign, with the lighter wing approach becoming the preferred direction. Final structural freeze moved into midJune.
Propulsion and Powertrain Procurement
The main VTOL propulsion order was placed for Spearhead motors, ESCs, propellers, and spares. Gasoline pusher starter/generator options were reviewed but remain a separate future work stream because the checked options were either too heavy or not confirmed for generator operation.
4. Goals for Next Month
- Finalize the Spearhead PT1 structural design.
- Finalize the Spearhead PT1 electrical design.
- Manufacture the airframe and assemble the components.
- Replace the damaged Stork servo, improve GPS/FPV packaging, and resume Stork flight tests.
- Release and review the flight dynamics model with trim, linearization, and preliminary stability analysis.
- Generate control-surface delta coefficient tables for the flight model.
5. Budget & Resource Allocation
Project Expenses
Reimbursements totaling $3,984.80 were submitted this month, covering Spearhead VTOL motors, ESCs, and propellers, Stork wiring parts, GNSS items, adhesives, control-surface mechanisms, and fabrication tools. The breakdown can be found here.
Team Members Compensation
Team compensation totaled $21,120.00 this month. The breakdown can be found here.
Total
The total May expense of Project Spearhead was $25,104.80.