Student Research & Projects
Capstone Airplane Design Projects
The capstone airplane design courses constitute the final educational shaping experience that brings together elements of all that students learned during their undergraduate years. In these courses student learn how to design airplanes and how economics and societal needs combine with the fundamental aeronautical disciplines of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and control to create integrated flying machines.
Design/Build/Fly Team
Each year UW A&A students participate in the Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems student Design/Build/Fly competition. The contest provides a real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytic studies. Student teams design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft that can best meet the specified mission profile.
Graduate Student Research
Our graduate students are engaged in exciting research in all disciplines of aeronautics and astronautics. In autumn 2012, we hosted a graduate student poster session, in which 45 students participated, showcasing their research in controls, fluids, plasma science, and structures/composites. This event was attended by 110 students, faculty, alumni and industry partners. We plan to make this an annual event.
The 2007 Airplane Project:
Low Sonic Boom F-16XL
The 2007 Design Build Fly Project: "Purple Haze"