Don Nolan-Proxmire Embargoed Until: August 3, 1996
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(202) 358-1983
Keith Henry
Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
(804) 864-6120
Mary Sandy
Virginia Space Grant Consortium
(804) 865-0726
Release No. 96-121
NASA and FAA Announce General Aviation Design Competition
Winners
Oshkosh, Wis.--NASA and the FAA announced the winners of their
1996 National General Aviation Design Competition today at the
Experimental Aircraft Association's Annual Fly-In Convention and
Sport Aviation Exhibition in Oshkosh, Wis.
The competition, which is in its second year, allows university
students to participate in a major national effort to revitalize
the U.S. general aviation sector. For the purpose of the contest,
general aviation aircraft are defined as single-pilot, fixed-wing,
single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft for two to six passengers.
Teams of undergraduate and graduate students from U.S. engineering
schools work with faculty advisors to address design challenges for
a small aircraft transportation system.
Teams were asked to address design challenges in one or more of
the following technical areas: integrated cockpit systems;
propulsion, noise and
emissions; integrated design and manufacturing; aerodynamics;
and operating
infrastructure. Students were allowed to consider designs for an
entire aircraft or for a system or subsystem.
The first-place award was given to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University of Daytona Beach, Fl. The team received a cash award of
$3,000 and a $5,000 award for the university's Aerospace
Engineering Department. The team's innovative design for a
four-passenger, twin-boom aircraft with pusher propulsion
incorporates outstanding safety features with lowered vehicle
production, maintenance and operating costs.
The second-place award was presented to three Kansas
universities that worked together on a joint design project: the
University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Wichita State University in
Wichita, Kan., and Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. The
team will share a $2,000 cash award for its design of an
economically viable light airplane to be constructed of composite
materials instead of traditional metals.
The design team from Pennsylvania State University in University
Park, Pa., received the third-place award and will share $1,000.
The design is for a four-passenger, single-engine, twin-boom,
H-tail aircraft with retractable nose gear. Ease of manufacturing
was a hallmark of this low cost, relatively high performance
aircraft design.
A special award for Greatest Retrofit Potential was given to the
design team from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The $500
award is sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Air Safety Foundation. The team concentrated on an integrated,
state-of-the-art cockpit system with pilot-friendly interfaces, as
well as computer-based training systems to make pilot training
easier and more affordable.
The National General Aviation Design Competition is coordinated
for NASA and the FAA by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.
Guidelines for the third annual competition to be held during the
1996-1997 academic year will be available from the consortium in
August at (804) 865-0726 or from msandy@pen.k12.va.us.
-end-
text-only version of this release | 
