The goal of this project was to design, build, and test a wheeled landing gear for Beta Technologies' Alia eVTOL aircraft. The final landing gear design uses an innovative hybrid concept where conventional helicopter skids are combined with a quad-wheel design to allow the skids to absorb the load when a landing exceeds a specified vertical g-force upon impact. The design also had to be lightweight, have low aerodynamic drag, not require any modification of Alia, and have fast development time for ongoing test flights. The final design consists of a 7075 aluminum frame and uses carbon fiber leaf springs for the rear wheel suspension with tire deflection absorbing front wheel loads. Static load and taxi testing of the landing gear revealed some deficiencies that will require a re-design of the landing gear suspension mechanisms and skid tube. However, knowledge gained during this project will aid Beta Technologies in this re-design.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Tulloch, Jack G.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-040521-232152
• 17066

Advisor

• Olinger, David J.

Year

• 2021

Sponsor

• Beta Technologies

Date created

• 2021-04-05

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-04-03