UMR places second in heavy-lift aircraft event
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A team of UMR students finished second in an international weight-lifting competition of radio-controlled airplanes held April 16-18 in Deland, Fla. The UMR team also received a trophy for lifting the most weight in the competition.
UMR’s Advanced Aero Vehicle Group finished second out of five entries in its class, successfully carrying more than 44 pounds, at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Aero Design East Competition. The event, held April 16-18 in Deland, Fla., is one of two annual international aerospace competitions sponsored by SAE. The Milwaukee School of Engineering finished first in the event.
The competition required student teams to design and build a radio-controlled aircraft that can take off and land while carrying a maximum weight of cargo. The planes must comply with stringent design specifications. "Our goal of forming student teams such as the AAVG is to open up opportunities and create environments for students to seek fresh ideas and generate original solutions to problems," says team adviser Dr. Fathi Finaish, professor and associate chair of aerospace engineering.
UMR’s team designed a 15-pound aircraft with a 13-foot wing span that lifted more than 44 pounds. The aircraft incorporated unique design and construction features, including lightweight materials, construction techniques and high-tech hardware. The UMR team received a trophy for lifting the most weight in proportion to the weight of the aircraft.
