Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jon Eilts A&M's team of aerospace engineering students entering the competition designed a plane that could carry several pounds of weight and climb to a couple hundred feet. [Click to enlarge]

If you're an aerospace engineering major, you may be familiar with the senior capstone project, where groups of students are given two semesters, one to design and one to build, their choice of a plane, rocket or satellite. Though this project is one most seniors anticipate, for seven sophomore aerospace engineering majors, the project could not come soon enough.

In August, junior aerospace engineering major Anton Kolomiets read about an international aerospace competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers that would take place April 3.

The competition involved designing and building a plane able to take off in 200 feet, hold at least seven pounds and meet size requirements. The team also had to create a 30-page design report and presentation that will be judged along with the actual performance flight of the plane.

With registration just around the corner, Kolomiets began talking with some of his classmates about forming a team and finding a faculty adviser.

"At first we had some skeptics," Kolomiets said.

The group, sophomores at the time, had a couple of aerospace classes under their belt. For their competitors, who are mostly seniors funded by their university, this was a leg up.

It cost $4,000 in materials, travel expenses, lodging and a basic entrance fee of $450.

The team sent out more than 400 letters requesting donations for the competition.

With a positive response of donations, good luck letters and offers to help, the team met the quota and the game plan became a reality.

The competition is in two parts, Aerospace East and Aerospace West. Each side takes 60 teams from India, Canada, Mexico and College Station, Texas.

To the team's surprise, they were assigned team No. 12 and are taking it as a sign of the 12th Man.

Continued...

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