A team of students from Missouri University of Science and Technology won first place in the advanced class at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ annual Aero Design East competition this past weekend.

The SAE Aero Design East competition was sponsored by Lockheed Martin and held Friday, March 15, through Sunday, March 17, at the Fort Worth Thunderbirds Flying Field in Fort Worth, Texas. S&T’s Advanced Aero Vehicle Group (AAVG) competed with 75 collegiate teams from around the world.

In this year’s competition there were four components. Students presented a technical design to SAE and Lockheed Martin for review and passed a technical inspection of their aircraft on the first day. The team then flew its plane once on Saturday and again on Sunday.

S&T’s team earned first in the presentation portion and third in design. The team was in first place overall at the end of the first day.

The team’s objective for the flight portion was to use its 8-pound plane to carry a 15-pound static payload and a 3-pound “humanitarian aid package,” a sandbag, which was to be dropped on a target from 100 feet in the air. Scoring was based on the sandbag’s proximity to the specified target.

In an unprecedented experience, no advanced class team was able to complete the run successfully on either day. Teams struggled in the strong Texan winds and even after achieving liftoff, many teams crashed or failed to target the designated drop zone. With no points being awarded for the flight aspects, the Miners remained in first place.

“The excitement that comes with a first place effort can never be removed from those that invested themselves into the dream,” says Dr. Paul Hirtz, interim director of the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center at S&T. “Even after a late setback, crashing its first plane during testing, the team never gave up and focused on its ultimate goal, determined to be successful. That determination has awarded the team and the whole S&T community Miner pride that we can all be proud of now and into the future.”

Dr. Walter Eversman, Curators’ Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at S&T, is the AAVG team advisor; John Schaefer, a senior in aerospace engineering from St. Louis, is the chief engineer; and Jason Brown, a senior in aerospace engineering from Bolivar, Mo., is the team leader for the spring 2013 semester. Brown leads a group of 33 S&T students in the design and implementation of the group’s projects.

The following students are part of the AAVG for the spring 2013 semester:

Brandon Adamson, a junior in aerospace engineering from Lebanon, Mo.
Tyler Bell, a senior in engineering management from Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Jonathan Bick, a senior in mechanical engineering from Lake St. Louis, Mo.
Jonathon Boerema, a senior in information science and technology from Reeds Spring, Mo.
Jason Brown, a senior in aerospace engineering from Bolivar, Mo.
Kyle Bruer, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from O’Fallon, Mo.
Baotan Chen, a senior in aerospace engineering from Peculiar, Mo.
Brandon Coleman, a junior in aerospace engineering from Raymore, Mo.
Austin Cozby, a senior in aerospace engineering from Nixa, Mo.
Bret Hagler, a senior in aerospace engineering from Salem, Mo.
Joseph Hakanson, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Maryland Heights, Mo.
Carl Herrmann, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Robert, Mo.
Daniel Hubert, a senior in aerospace engineering from Foristell, Mo.
Casey Hutcheson, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Rolla, Mo.
Ricky Jiles Jr., a senior in aerospace engineering from St. Louis
Lennia Knupp, a senior in biological sciences from Hollister, Mo.
Keith Maxwell, a senior in aerospace engineering from Carthage, Mo.
Max Mayer, a junior in mechanical engineering from Camdenton, Mo.
Drew McNeely, a junior in aerospace engineering from Houston
Alex Mundahl, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Bloomington, Ala.
Jared Pitts, a senior in electrical engineering from Raytown, Mo.
Juan Rosales, a sophomore in electrical engineering from Eagle Pass, Texas
Stephen Ryan, a senior in aerospace engineering from Defiance, Mo.
Marco Scala, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Onalaska, Wis.
John Schaefer, a senior in aerospace engineering from St. Louis
John Shultz, a senior in aerospace engineering from Waynesville, Mo.
Jacob Sinclair, a senior in aerospace engineering from Rolla, Mo.
Matthew Specker, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Odessa, Mo.
Heather Steele, a senior in aerospace engineering from Madison, Ala.
James Sullivan, a senior in aerospace engineering from Wildwood, Mo.
Johnathan Sumpter, a senior in aerospace engineering from Orrick, Mo.
Kevin Tew, a junior in mechanical engineering from Scott City, Mo.
Alexander Woodard, a junior in electrical engineering from Ballwin, Mo.