Members of the 2007 Advanced Aero Vehicle Group at the University of Missouri-Rolla are flying their remote-controlled aircraft in the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Aero Design Competition May 4-6 in Fort Worth, Texas.         

UMR’s aircraft has a wingspan of approximately 10-feet and is capable of flying a payload of about 45 pounds.         

Teams are judged on load-lifting capabilities, flight scores, written design reports and oral presentations. Each year, the SAE creates new standards and rules for the competition, which usually attracts about 50 student design teams from North America.         

In 2006, UMR won the design portion of the contest but its aircraft crashed on takeoff during a flight.         

Members of UMR’s 2007 Advanced Aero Vehicle Group who are competing in Texas include:         

– David Althuis, a freshman in aerospace engineering from St. Peters, Mo.

– Stephen Baker, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Louis

– Katelynn Blackwood, a junior in aerospace engineering from Edmond, Okla.

– Devin Boyle, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Louis

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

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

– David McKinnon, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Wright City, Mo.

– Kyle Runge, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences from St. Peters, Mo.

– Eli Schuldt, a junior in aerospace engineering from Cambridge, Minn.

– Lydia Tucker, a junior in aerospace engineering from High Ridge, Mo.

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

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

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