Teaching aircraft design with flyable prototype

Abstract

Aircraft design, a final year subject, integrates knowledge in aero dynamics, structure, stability and control, propulsion system and performance of an aircraft. In many universities, students will produce a conc eptual design based on a Request for Proposal document. As a university that adopts Outcome - Based Education (OBE ) concept, students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) are not only expected to apply knowledge to solve design problems but also skillful and able to work as a team. Using Problem - Based Learning technique, students taking the Aircraft Design subject a re taught design technique and skills to build a flyable prototype. The challenges faced by instructor are ensuring t he originality of the des ign and prototype is completed within budget and dateline.