A group of UMR students probably won’t forget the 2004 flight when their aircraft lost its headwind and clipped some trees at takeoff. Fortunately, though, it was a remote-controlled aircraft.         

Members of UMR’s 2006 Advanced Aero Vehicle Group will test their new radio-controlled airplane, which has an eight-foot wingspan, against approximately 50 other student-designed planes in the Aero Design East Competition April 21-23 in Marietta, Ga. The event is sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which creates new standards and rules for the competition each year.          

Last year, the UMR team finished third in the competition.         

The main objective is to design and build an aircraft, within contest parameters, that can carry as much weight in flight as possible. Teams are awarded three bonus points for every pound of payload lifted. This year, the maximum takeoff weight is 55 pounds minus the empty weight of the aircraft.         

“Our plane will weigh nine pounds empty, resulting in a maximum payload of 46 pounds,” says Kyle Zimmer, president of UMR’s 2006 Advanced Aero Vehicle Group. “The aircraft must takeoff within 200 feet and land within 400 feet. There is a bonus awarded when the aircraft is able to come to a complete stop within 400 feet of the landing zone.”         

Runway take-off speeds exceed 30 mph and flight speeds are approximately 40 mph.         

Teams are judged on load-lifting capabilities, flight scores, written design reports and oral presentations.         

Advisors to the UMR team are Dr. Walter Eversman, Curators’ Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Dr. Fathi Finaish, professor of aerospace engineering. Kelly O’Connor and Jerry Gibbons, both of Rolla, will serve as pilots.

The following students helped design and build the aircraft and are members of UMR’s 2006 Advanced Aero Vehicle Group:                   

– Sunil Aggarwal, a senior in aerospace engineering from New Delhi, India.

– Tim Assel, a senior in aerospace engineering from Cameron, Mo.

– Kris Atkins, a senior in aerospace engineering from St. Peters, Mo.

– Matt Conway, a senior in aerospace engineering from Boonville, Mo.

– Mike Ezell, a junior in architectural engineering from Henderson, Nev.

– Adam Damoude, a senior in aerospace engineering from Holdridge, Mo.

– Alyse Dannenberg, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

– Steven Griffin, a senior in aerospace engineering from Princeton, Ill.

– Andrew Jordan, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Jackson, Mo.

– Jared Loebs, a freshman in aerospace engineering from St. Charles, Mo.

– Chris Marley, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Springfield, Mo.

– Andrew Modlin, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Joseph, Mo.

– Chris Norgren, a senior in aerospace engineering from Wichita, Kan.

– Bryan Ralston, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from O’Fallon, Ill.

– Matt Robinson, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Blue Springs, Mo.

– Derek Schmitz, a graduate student in aerospace engineering from Rolla.

– Elijah Schuldt, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Cambridge, Minn.

– Justin Shoemaker, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Macon, Mo.

– Trent Taylor, a graduate student in aerospace engineering from Mt. Vernon, Mo.

– Aubrey Tuk, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Leawood, Kan.

– Patrick White, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Lee’s Summit, Mo.

– Kyle Zimmer, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Columbia, Mo.

– Sam Zitterkob, a senior in aerospace engineering from Yukon, Okla.