Jet Stream – a team of 10 designers – worked on the two models of airplanes from June. “Bat” and “Drop”, as they are called, will represent Wrocław University of Technology at an international competition in Texas at the end of March.
Constructing the airplanes cost the students a lot of work and time. They started designing the models in June last year and finished in December. Then they started building the real planes.
“The most important part of the project coincided with the exam session. Therefore we had to divide all our time between studying, exams, and building the models. We devoted every free minute to ‘Bat’ and ‘Drop’” – says Zbigniew Kruk, head coordinator of the project.
SAE Aero Design West is a prestigious competition. About 40 teams will take part in this year’s edition, including two from Poland. They will compete for the title of the best team of young engineers – aircraft designers. Students of Wrocław University of Technology will be represented for the 6th time.
Participation in the event consists in constructing a model of an aircraft that will be able to carry the most heavy load in an airport in Texas.
The “Bat” will be competing in the “regular” class, while the “Drop” will be fighting in the “micro” class.
“Participation in the competition is a great way to try out our theoretical knowledge in practice, i.e. to implement what we have learned during classes.” – says Zbigniew Kruk – “High places in the competition mean huge prestige and important experience that rises our chances on the job market. People who started in the competition 30 years ago today are often recruiting the current participants.”
The “Jet Stream” team is composed of students of the Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Machine Building field of study (Engineering of Aviation specialization), as well as the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, and Faculty of Electronics.
The SAE Aero Design West competition will start on 28th March and will last until 30th March.
Lucyna Róg
Translation: Dariusz Więcławski
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