Project Abstract:

Production Strategy
The Primary objective is to layout the production plan for launching the WG-8 Craft designed by the Germans in to production. The Current WG-8A prototype is a hand built machine, using wet laidup of glass and carbon fiber throughout the airframe. The Proposal is to look at an alternative process and its implementation with respect to 3 important parameters. Cost Analysis, Process Time analysis (Manufacturing lead time + Cycle Time), Reliability & Repeatability of the composite specimen. The prototype WG-8 was manufactured not taking in to considerations the Lead times and Cycle times for each component. Hence there was no specific production line or procedure associated for assembly of its components. For launching a product in to the market one needs to have a specific and well planned out manufacturing flow assembly line in order to have optimum utilization of the resources and to have a continuous production at a low cost. The Process
Proposed will be validated by conducting testing on specimens. This is important since using a new process may not yield the same material properties as the previous process. Hence Testing would ensure repeatability and reliability for the process suggested.

Propulsion Strategy
One of the most expensive and important components of the WG8 Wig-craft is the propulsion system. The WG8 is driven by a single engine drive system which is then coupled to a gearbox which simultaneously drives 2 shafts with 2 independent propellers attached at their respective ends. The shafts from the gearbox are connected to the shafts holding the propellers via a universal joint. This current arrangement is highly inefficient because the take off requires about three times the amount of thrust as that needed for cruise and so the only about 40% of the engine capacity is used. The use of a single engine also poses a problem of reliability and further inefficiency. In addition the propulsion system is custom built and therefore expensive and has a higher lead time which becomes an issue for commercial production of the craft. The project aims to investigate the feasibility of off the shelf engines that are currently available in the market to replace the current engine and to determine the pros and cons of a single drive vs a dual drive system to implement into the propulsion system. The thrust and power as well as other relevant requirements of the craft shall be first determined from the propeller characteristics, geometry etc which would then be translated to engine specifications. Once determined these would help identify engines which match the requirements whether single drive or dual.