Aero Design West 2012

Location: Airtel Plaza Hotel & Valley Flyers Field

Wet Weather Doesn’t Dampen 2012 Aero Design West’s Spirits

SAE International continued their Collegiate Design Series with their first of two Aero Design competitions last week. Friday, March 16 brought about the registration of 53 teams from all over the world to southern California for an exciting event weekend. The teams were challenged with Technical Inspection and Oral Presentations Friday that led to an all team meeting Friday night by the Aero Design West Organizer Gene Holloway. This year teams in the Micro Class were challenged with the task of either tossing the plane for takeoff or using a catapult system. Two micro class teams out of twenty one created catapult systems while the others decided on a hand toss approach. Taking top awards in the presentations Friday were the Micro Class- 306 University of Toronto, Advanced Class- 214 VJ Technical University, and Regular Class – 019 Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal.

Saturday, March 17^th was met with very unseasonable wet weather as the teams made their way to the field early in the morning only to be met with a low ceiling, low visibility, and harsh rains that postponed the event until the afternoon. Meeting back at the field the teams began with regular class, advanced class, and micro class all flying one round. Sunday, March 18^th brought about clear skies and the teams began flying in the morning and accomplished two rounds before the awards ceremony that took place onsite at the Valley Flyers Field. Taking home top awards in the Micro Class – 321 University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Advanced Class – 203 Boise State, and the Regular Class – 019 Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal.

SAE International would like to thank our Aero Design West Organizing committee headed by Gene Holloway for a successful event to begin our Aero Design Series. We would also like to thank our national sponsors Lockheed Martin, Boeing, DS SolidWorks, ANSYS, Byron’s Fuel, Pointwise, and NASA. As well as thank you to the San Fernando Valley Radio Control Flyers Club that allowed us use of their flying field and structures. Finally we would like to thank all the volunteers that helped make this event possible. Without their support, dedication, and generous donation of time our events would not be possible and successful.

2012 SAE Aero Design West Winners:

Micro Class Oral Presentation Award

1^st 306 University of Toronto

2^nd 317 Wright State

3^rd Middle East Technical University

Advanced Class Oral Presentation Award

1^st 214 VJ Technical University

2^nd 211 University of Toronto

3^rd 202 St. Louis University

Regular Class Oral Presentation Award

1^st 019 Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal

2^nd 006 Texas A&M

3^rd 031 Politechnika Poznaska

Micro Class Written Design Report Award

1^st 309 St. Louis University

2^nd 316 Queens University

3^rd 301 University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Advanced Class Written Design Report Award

1^st 202 St. Louis University

2^nd 211 University of Toronto

3^rd 205 Iowa State

Regular Class Written Design Report Award

1^st 009 University of Michigan Ann Arbor

2^nd 019 Ecole Polyttechniche d’Montreal

3^rd 010 Kettering University

Micro Class Highest Payload Fraction Award

1^st 321 University of Minnesota Twin Cities

2^nd 301 University of Minnesota Twin Cities

3^rd 302 Politechika Poznaska

Advanced Class Most Payload Lifted Award

1^st 213 New York Polytechnic Brooklyn

2^nd 203 Boise State

3^rd 205 Iowa State

Advanced Class Most Accurate Award

1^st 202 St. Louis University

2^nd 211 University of Toronto

3^rd 212 Arizona State – Tempe

Regular Class most Payload Lifted Award

1^st 031 Politechnika Poznanska

2^nd 019 Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal

3^rd 016 Ecole De Technologie Superieure

NASA Systems Engineering Award

021 University of Petroleum Energy Studies

SAE International Overall Micro Class Award

1^st 321 University of Minnesota Twin Cities

2^nd 306 University of Toronto

3^rd 301 University of Minnesota Twin Cities

SAE International Overall Advanced Class Award

1^st 203 Boise State

2^nd 211 University of Toronto

3^rd 213 New York Polytechnic Brooklyn

Elliott & Dorothy Green Overall Regular Class Award

1^st 019 Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal

2^nd 031 Politechnika Poznanska

3^rd 016 Ecole De Technologie Superieure

Best Crash

009 University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Best Flight Plan

024 ITESM Toluca