Innovative lightweight aircraft design : a student competition

Abstract

Education in engineering design is a challenging task. On the one hand the students have to get a broad theoretical basis and engineering expertise, on the other hand they have to learn how to apply their knowledge and how to face real technical problems [Pulko, 2004]. Since time in University is limited (in Germany a engineering degree at university level takes about 5 years to complete) often an emphasis is put on a sound theoretical education at the expense of practical experience. This paper presents a student competition between four German universities, which provides a practical team-work project for engineering (design) students that nearly spans the whole life-cycle from brainstorming for product ideas to manufacturing and usage of the product. The development task is an aircraft or flight device totally made of steel. Aim of the project is to apply the theoretical knowledge at a practical task.