Developed independently from my official studies from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025, the Starcraft was undertaken to not only design an airplane, but tackle issues I’ve perceived with other student design projects involving aircraft design. I wanted to ensure this project was not only sketched and modeled precisely, but also was aerodynamically and structurally achievable and feasible, and as a result, countless hours were spent on not just the design, but the research of the aerodynamics, engineering, and economics related to creating a realistic airplane. Inspired by one of the most remarkable aircraft ever made, The Beechcraft Starship, the Starcraft serves to continue its revolutionary legacy in the general aviation market, as a study of what personal aircraft can be, in a market segment which has seen far too little advancement in the last quarter century.
This project is a personal love letter to aviation, specifically for Burt Rutan, who has constantly pushed the boundaries of aeronautics and flight. The beauty of his designs were a consequence of their aerodynamic efficiency and purpose; They looked the way they did not because of taste and sensibilities, but because they obeyed the laws of physics. His aircraft didn’t need fancy mood boards or online design discussions about flowing form and volume to make them beautiful. The designs were informed by their physical forms which were essential to how they flew, and that’s what made them truly beautiful.
