MushBroom 5000

MushBroom 5000 is a specialized aircraft concept designed to support rapid, large-scale bioremediation of inland oil spills by dispersing mycelium-coated seeds over contaminated areas. The aircraft is designed to carry approximately 5,000 pounds of seed payload, cover 200 acres per mission, operate from relatively short rural airstrips, and provide useful ferry range for remote operations. The team completed aircraft sizing and performance analyses along with structural designs for the fuselage, wings, empennage, landing gear, propulsion system, and seed-dispersal mechanism. The project also incorporated environmental and operational considerations and applicable FAA, EPA, and ASTM requirements to create a sustainable alternative for responding to difficult-to-access pipeline spills.