Canberra, Wednesday 3 June 2002

ANU students will fly high in the US

A team of talented students from The Australian National University's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) will compete in the international Aero Design® Competition in Palmdale, California from June 7to June 9.

The Australian National University is the only Australian university to enter the competition and this team will be the second to participate. Last year ANU finished 6th overall, lifted the 4th greatest weight, and won the award for 'most innovative design'.

The current team, formed October 2001 and supervised by Dr Shankar Kalyanasundaram, Rob Gresham and Dr Paul Compston, have optimised and improved several aspects of last year's design, using computer modelling and other advanced techniques. The team has also benefited from the aeronautical expertise of the Dean of FEIT, Professor John Baird.

Steve De Deckker is the captain of the team and believes he is getting invaluable experience by participating in a prestigious US collegiate competition.

"Participating in this competition will help me achieve my goal of working in the aeronautical industry."

Other team members Rob Dark, Sunny Forsyth, Gyanam Sadananda, Rosie Barnes and pilot Dean Campbell-Smith believe working on the project has provided them with the opportunity to work cooperatively towards a common goal.

"All the late nights in the workshop will be worth it when we see the plane fly in California," Sunny said.

The Aero Design® Competition challenges engineering students to conceive, design, fabricate, and test a radio controlled aircraft that can take off and land while carrying the maximum cargo. This gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom on a practical problem.


For more information contact Rosie Barnes (Team Member) 0416 272 453
Nichola Cox, Public Affairs on 6125 5001 or 0416 249 108

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© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002