SAE CARGO PLANE

This was a Contest for Engineering students to design a model airplane that could lift as much weight as possible.  The total area of the model could not be more then 1200 sq. inches which included the wing, body and tail surfaces.  The only motor allowed was a K&B 61. and the model had to take off in less then 200 feet.  We finish in first place the first year and second place the following year.  We could have easily won the second year if I would have added a top spar to the wing.  On it’s first flight lifted 18 pounds of cargo the wing snapped in flight.  Repairs that night to the model added 3 pounds.  The next day we easily lifted the same 18 pounds but ran out of time to attempt another flight.