Launching Futures to New Heights

In early April, U of T students enrolled in the Aircraft Design course participated in the Aircraft Design Fly-Off at University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). Students enrolled in the design course, which is taught by Joaquim Martins, Canada Research Chair in Multidisciplinary Optimization, are required to design, build and fly an electric-powered airplane.

The flight-testing took place in the field behind UTIAS. The flights, which students have 15 minutes to make, comprise 20% of the students’ final grade. In addition to the scheduled flights, time was also scheduled for free format flights.

Student Kari Zacharias (Eng Sci 0T8 Aerospace Option) commented that her team, The Mighty Ducks, was nervous prior to their scheduled flight. "We'd done a couple of flight tests during the previous week that...ended in crashes and serious repairs," she commented. Despite a last-minute scare with the team's aileron control, which was fixed with the assistance of a TA and some borrowed equipment ten minutes before The Mighty Ducks were scheduled to fly, the team had a successful flight. "Considering all that, we were thrilled, relieved, and a little surprised that our plane managed to fly so well. It was great to see our work come to fruition that way..."

The test pilot for the flights was AJ Hobby store owner, Jack Humphreys. “All aircraft managed to fly successfully,” said Professor Martins. “Many of the aircraft were able to perform aerobatic maneuvers such as loops, rolls and inverted flight.” Following the flights, UTIAS sponsored a reception at ground level for the students and all involved.
 

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