MSOE Aero design team recaptures its gold luster in Florida
| Published: 04/21/2004 |
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Competing against college engineering teams from around the world, MSOE recaptured its title at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design East competition last weekend in Deland, Fla. The team won the Open Class Division for the radio-controlled aircraft they designed and built, then pushed to its limits – and beyond -- with a successful flight that earned the most points.
The contest score is based on a combination of written and oral presentations, and then amount of weight that the airplane is able to successfully fly at the competition. After oral presentations on Friday, the team was in fourth place. With its successful flights Saturday and Sunday the team was able to pull off a victory, beating its rivals by a mere 0.05 points.
MSOE was the first plane to fly Saturday, with Paul Hohensee, an MSOE alumnus, at the controls. Shortly after takeoff, the plane developed problems in one wing causing the craft to uncontrollably turn left, taking it into a forest.
“After several loud noises and crackles, followed by deafening silence, it looked like we were eliminated from the competition,” said co-adviser John Lumkes, a mechanical engineering professor who accompanied the team. “But in the ‘never say die’ spirit that we’ve come to expect from our Aero teams, the team immediately began organizing a plan to rebuild without even knowing the full extent of the damage. They literally picked up the pieces and decided to rebuild it with 18 hours remaining in the contest.”
Showing incredible resiliency and teamwork, Aero MSOE worked through the night to rebuild using scrap balsa wood and glue. Two members even dried Florida humidity from the rebuilt plane using a propane grill, a Holiday Inn hair dryer and halogen lamp.
They managed to have the plane ready for its first flight 10:30 Sunday morning, where their work was rewarded with a flight that carried 40.79 lbs. They leapfrogged the four teams in front of it, to place first by a mere .05 points, with only 0.12 points separating the top three teams!
With one more round remaining, the teams were allowed one more shot at the title. Brazil’s Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Norte completed three-quarters of its flight, but lost control and crashed into the forest. The University of Missouri-Rolla crashed upon the initial turn, assuring victory for Team MSOE.
“It was absolutely incredible to see what they accomplished throughout the night,” said co-adviser Steven Barnicki, an electrical engineering professor who also accompanied the team. “The fact that we flew again and ended up surprising everyone to win the competition is a bonus; the teamwork, dedication, and desire that these students demonstrated is much more impressive than the actual victory.”
This project was made possible with financial support from sponsors including Johnson Controls, SAE Milwaukee Chapter and United Defense.
2004 MSOE Aero Design Team/ Hometown or Parent AddressCathy Braun; Fond du Lac, Wis.
Ryan Cullen; Rockford, Ill.
Eric Ergen; Bay View neighborhood, Milwaukee
Mark Graff; Hartland, Wis.
Eric Kirschling; Brookfield, Wis.
Ryan Kraus; Elkhart, Ind.
Jeff Maresh; Whitelaw, Wis.
Jason Mazurek; Bryant, Az.
Darren Mueller; Kewaskum, Wis.
Jason Pospisil; Alexandria, Minn.
Eli Steuer; Mishicot, Wis.
Kris Berge; Dodge Center, Minn.
Aaron Bruegl; Jefferson, Wis.
Randy Kohlstedt; Trevor, Wis.
Diana Leow; Onalaska, Wis.
Neil Wyatt; Burlington, Wis.
Co-advisor Steven Barnicki; Bay View neighborhood, Milwaukee
Co-advisor John Lumkes; Delavan, Wis.