The dream of every engineer is to invent or practice that which had been studied theoretically in the classroom, for that purpose; it is common to see some scientists trying to build something that proves the theory aspect of engineering to be right. As the case may be for most locally made machines including the air-crafts, the theories do not always correspond with the physical production after each locally material is built. The reason for such inaccuracy can be attributed to many factors which placed a limit to the engineer between what is available for the production and what is specified in the theory.
While books specify according to research and experience for easy duplication for any interested scientist, it is left for the scientist to actually follow what is stipulated in the books for proper production. The discoveries made before had proven that most locally made machines that did not operate as expected theoretically were as results of inaccuracy, the improper sequence in the production process, and the use of wrong materials for parts other than that specified theoretically.
The small-sized domestic airplane had been in existence ever since it was discovered, the need to improve in function and usability had prompted many engineers to go into different designs which some were successful and others were not, what is the reason others were not successful? That is a big question in the engineering career. Imagine spending about two years doing research about an airplane and its production process and later invested your money to purchase all the needed materials and embark on the production only to find out after every process has been completed that the airplane cannot lift up from the ground, so sad! Isn’t it? That is the case of some engineers and inventors. Let us go into detail on why locally made airplanes do not fly.
WHICH MATERIAL IS IT MADE FROM?
Yes, simple question but very important in the manufacturing field. Every material has its best usability and such applies to building an airplane, one must consider the best material putting into consideration the weight of the material and the overall quantity needed in the entire production, this is to ascertain the final weight input of such material to the entire product.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE AIR-CRAFT?
Yes; to know the possibility of lifting up from the ground you must compare its weight with that of its model both theoretically and practically to know the difference and areas that need compensation. When an airplane is built with excess weight, it cannot run with speed while trying to lift up the ground as a result of its low-speed it may not be able to fly except if the engine is upgraded to the type with the higher power.
WHAT IS THE ACCURACY OF THE AIR-CRAFT WINGS?
The saddest aspect of this; is that many engineers make this mistake, according to the law of equilibrium, the center of gravity holds a very high-efficiency to the enter parts of any object, when forces act on the center of gravity it can easily affect the entire parts. So the wings of the airplane are supposed to be located at the center of gravity of the entire body and should be wide enough to make more airflow below it by that it will be easy to lift the airplane when it is running with speed from the ground and pushed upward from the front side of the wings. It is very necessary to carry out a thorough calculation of the wings while making local airplanes.
THE ENGINE CAPACITY AND SPEED
A sports car needs an engine with more speed (rotation per minute) and with less torque, while heavy-duty vehicles like trucks need an engine with high torque (momentum) with less speed. That is the reason diesel engines were used in heavy-duty trucks because of their high momentum which enables them to overcome any resistance while carrying heavy loads also. However, small cars like sports cars use fuel engines due to their higher speed though with less momentum.
The airplane engine needs a combination of both momentum and speed for its effective operation. Therefore ensuring that the engine has these two qualities will make it very possible for it to fly.
MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN MAKING AIR-CRAFT LOCALLY ARE:
DURANIUM: this is an alloy of steel and aluminum, very light in weight yet very strong in strength, it is used in the building of an air-craft skeleton and all the metallic parts of the airplane.
FIBER: A popular material usually employed in the making of boats used in the water, it is adaptive to many weather conditions and very strong. It can easily be used to form any shape that is why it is easily used locally for air-craft body making.
There are other materials which are too numerous to mention for air-craft making but these two are the popular ones.
