Rhinoceros + HP Zbook Studio = Unlimited Creativity

I've been spending nearly 4 years now in RC plane hobby. I started to design my own parkjet back in early 2015. Started it with HP Zbook 14 and Rhinoceros. Things get even more exciting to me after I have my own Zbook Studio, as well as getting awesome support from global rc plane enthusiasts communities.

After designing some groundbreaking parkjets, I finally came up with a jaw dropping design (according to my colleagues abroad), the Sukhoi SU-30SM. And here's my story.

IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE THAT
After having some short discussions during the last month of 2017 with my colleague Ian Bott (UK) and Jeff Reimer (Canada), I told them that I wanna design another Sukhoi. But this time, it should be different from what I did in the past. I would like to learn more things during the design stage. I'd really like to extend my knowledge and cross the boundaries. My friends told me it would be quite challenging, but we love challenges. So, I decided to go with SU-30SM, which the variant that I hadn't done any in the past. So, I quickly started the rc model in Rhinoceros.

We came across some challenges as we would apply some few new things that would bring this new design to the real SU-30SM model:
1. airfoil wing design
2. leading edge droop
3. curvy panels on some areas
4. rear mounted motor that doesn't change the shape of the plane


THE DESIGN STAGE
Rhinoceros enabled me to create independent smooth curves and surfaces, joint them together, experimented with different approaches in a snap. Creating sheets of panels hadn't never been this easy and fast. And finally, creating 2D layout of each sheet panel, even the curvy ones, in a breeze.

After completing some iterations, we finally came up with the full beta design. The beta design came through some virtual tests we did with OpenFOAM and Flowsquare, in simulating the fluid dynamics. There were some drags shown but they're acceptable since it's designed to be constructed with 6mm of depron sheets. The HP Zbook Studio did very well to complete some fluid dynamics simulation. It didn't take long until we finalize the design.
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THE PROTOTYPE
I was constructing the 1st prototype while my colleague Jeff Reimer constructed the 2nd one. Here's the picture of my built.

​THE MAIDEN FLIGHT
Finally, it had a successful maiden flight event. A true masterpiece from all the designs I'd created. Watching and controlling it soaring in the sky was priceless.