SC-24

SC-24 is a short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) utility aircraft designed for backcountry and off-airport operations in snow and icy conditions. The aircraft is intended to carry two pilots and either two snowmobiles or two ATVs while remaining capable of operating from both snow-covered and paved runways. A central design feature is a retractable landing-ski system that allows the aircraft to transition between snow operations and conventional runway use. The team developed a mission profile requiring the aircraft to clear a 50-foot obstacle within 1,500 feet, cruise for 500 nautical miles, perform reconnaissance of an unfamiliar landing area, and complete soft touchdowns before landing in up to 24 inches of snow. The design incorporates a PT6A-114A turboprop engine and a NACA 23112 airfoil, with detailed analyses of the wing spars, ribs, fuselage structure, empennage, and landing gear. Landing gear sizing considered static, level-landing, and side-landing loads, while the fuselage structure was iteratively refined for skin thickness, frame and stringer geometry, material selection, and rivet spacing. The resulting aircraft combines STOL performance, cargo capability, retractable skis, and structural design considerations aligned with FAA Part 23 requirements.