TerraBreak.org: An independent Design/Build/Fly (DBF) support site

Well, we've hit it! Yup, we've run full steam into that big flushed realization that competition is one month away. That's right, we have entered.... THE RED ZONE; and we're not talking about any sissy little 20 yard block of Astroturf. We're talking about that period of time where everything goes red.... your eyes, your fingers, and your homework. A time when you're scrambling to either finish up the plane and test fly it the day before you leave for competition, or trying to epoxy back together the pieces from your latest test flight "educational experience" (the ground is an unkind mistress). We feel your pain, we understand your narcolepsy, and to show our empathy we've rolled out the red.

In other news, we... cough... I, have finally finished the XFOIL tutorial that's been mentioned on our website for a year and a half. Yeah, we know, you coulda used that about two months ago when you were scrambling to gather figures for the report; life's been pretty crazy here too. This is a fairly basic treatise on using XFOIL, meant simply to get a user over the initial learning curve of XFOIL. I've contemplated adding an "advanced" user guide... but don't hold your breath; if the first one’s any judge... it could be a while before it's up.

Other than that, we're just trying to wrap up some loose ends before competition too. Like booking hotels, buying plane tickets, plotting our course, changing our oil, buying extra sun screen, and trying to cook up some surprises. In the meantime, don’t give up... several teams have rebuilt their plane overnight... and you've got at least 20 of those to go!

Well, it took us a while, but we've got the 2005 TerraBreak Survey results up. Enjoy!

As I write this, its about 1pm Eastern, which means you have 4-7 hours left to do the following:
1)open up word.
2)write your team name on the first page
3)insert a page break
4)write: "I'm sorry we got so far behind, and this is all of a report we can manage. The plane is low/high/mid-winged and we've got a really sweet motor.
5)make sure the printer is connected
6)select print, and make sure you edit the copy field to print out *5* copies!
7)staple all five sets of 2 pages together
8)run to UPS/FedEx/USPS and overnight them to:

AIAA Design/Build/Fly Contest/Report Judging
Mr. David Levy
Cessna Aircraft Company
5701 East Pawnee MS-PAW
Wichita, KS 67218

That should take you about an hour, so get going! If you don't make the 5pm over-night deadline... well, you better start considering: this or this!

Anyhow, get a move on, so we can see your bright smiling faces next month!