Aerodynamic Design Consideration for Stability of a Lightweight Solar-Powered Aircraft

Aerodynamic design analysis was conducted for the stability of a lightweight solar aircraft weighing 3 kg and a wingspan of 3.2 m. Airfoil analysis was conducted on four selected airfoils. The following factors were considered: good aerodynamic characteristics, low Reynolds number, high lift, low drag, high lift-to-drag ratio, quiet moment coefficient, moderate thickness, and camber curvature. WE-3.55.93 airfoil was selected as best and used to design the wing, and NACA 0008 was used to develop the empennage. The fuselage was designed with two compartments 1.9 m long, and the second compartment is made of aluminium or carbon fibre to reduce weight. The first compartment was 0.95 m long and 0.4 m in diameter. The centre of gravity was determined for the importance of the various aircraft components to ensure aerodynamic stability and balance. The complete assembly was designed using XFLR5 v6 software.