Aero Project Takes First in Regional Event

MELBOURNE, FLA.—A Florida Institute of Technology student project, the Blended Wing Body Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, has won first place in the Team Division at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Southeast Regional Student Conference in Destin, Fla. The impressively wide-winged project—16-foot wingspan—was on display in April at Florida Tech’s Northrop Grumman Student Design Showcase.

The project team members are Sharif Abdel-Magid, Jamarus Brooks, Dennis Dalli, Joshuo Feys, Michael Filewich, Matthew Osborne and Daniel Thompson. All are aerospace engineering majors.

In a blended wing aircraft, the curve of the belly of the body blends into the curve of the wings. The team’s goal is to build a highly efficient aircraft with zero emissions, high reliability and the ability to travel great distances for its size. The team chose a blended wing body aircraft for its superior aerodynamic efficiency, interior space advantages and high lift capabilities. The design has applications in civilian, commercial and military aircraft.

The regional conference included more than 300 delegates from 14 universities in the region. The national conference will be held January 2011 in Orlando, Fla.