SAE Aero Design and Contest
The Aero Design competition challenges engineering students to conceive, design,
fabricate and test an aircraft. Normally there are two classes of competition:
open and regular. The regular class is mainly for undergraduates. The open class
is more suitable for graduate students from universities having aeronautical
departments. Rice has been involved, in the regular class only, since 1996.
Team members are required to register for SAE membership.
Teams of the regular class are required to design and build a radio controlled
aircraft using a prescribed engine that is capable of carrying the most weight
(payload). The plane must takeoff within a 200 foot (61 m) distance and land
within a 400 foot (122 m) distance. The design restrictions are to be completely
changed in 2002 and the latest design restrictions must be obtained from the
SAE.
The competition is divided into two parts: design and flight. In the design competition, prior to the contest, the contestants must submit a written report including the design plans and calculations predicting the maximum payload the plane can lift. In addition, at the contestant an oral presentation describing the design is required before judges. The flight competition will determine the accuracy of the calculations and the maximum weight that can actually be carried.
Further information and the latest contest rules can be found at;