THE 2007 Cessna Aircraft Company/
Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design/
Build/Fly competition was held at the Tucson
International Modelplex Park (TIMPA) April
20-22. Fifty teams entered the event of which
36 teams came to Tucson and 18 made at
least one scoring flight attempt.
The criteria was to create an airplane and
all of its support equipment that would fit into
a 2 x 4 x 1.5-foot shipping container. It would
be scored for ground and flight tasks.
Engineering papers were graded for each
aircraft giving a Rated Aircraft Cost which
formed a major part of the scoring. All of the
entries had to have a photo or video of their
airplane in the air before coming to Tucson
(AMA rule on flight before entering
competition).This competition was a private
affair and strict rules were enforced. Teams
were only allowed on site at specified times.
As TIMPA’s field manager and assistant
CD, I had a chance to see and mingle with the
students throughout the event. The finest
thing that I noticed was the comradeship and
friendship between teams. They watched
from the fence line cheering and applauding
their own teams and all of the others.
Only the flight crew was out flying; the
rest of the team watched. A crash would get
cheered as much as a completed flight.
Everyone knew of the effort each team made.
A crash would send the entire team into the
very large tent set up by Raytheon to house
team work stations.
The students I spoke with were pleasant
and eager to talk about their airplanes and
designs. I talked to teams from Scotland,
Israel, and Turkey and I think that their
English was better than mine.
I thought the best-looking airplane was the
Israeli entry, but it had troubles. It was to be
the first flight of the event but after a
successful takeoff it crashed badly. The rules
stated that an airplane could be rebuilt as long
as major parts signed on by one of the
technical inspectors were used in the rebuild.
B-Bug Technion from the Israel Institute of
Technology was the most pleasing design.
OSU Orange from Oklahoma State University
took second place.
The Spirit of Amelia, Purdue University’s
entry, took third place and was based on the
full-scale Facitmobile.
Raytheon provided a large tent for the
teams to work in. They also provided sun
screen, water, and meal tickets for the teams
and officials. Most of the inspection and
flightline officials were from Raytheon.
Food was provided by The BBQ Crew
Catering Co. out of Glendale, Arizona.
TIMPA provided the field, security, and
indoor plumbing as well as several officials
and a crash response team with a golf cart to
retrieve downed aircraft.
These students put their whole heart and
soul in these airplanes. No crying, just “we’ll
be back next year and watch our dust.”
Thanks to Bob Reynolds, District X
associate vice president for Southern Arizona,
for this exceptional contest report.
Furious George from the University of
California, Irvine, ran the full length of the
runway only lifting the nose wheel.
Auav-2 Eagle Eye from Auburn University
shows the two different payloads.
Raytheon recruiters gave out sunscreen,
water, meal tickets, and T-shirts, and
recruited for future employment
CD Chris Bovais.
Till next time … Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Rich Hanson
Vice President
Box 3312,
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Tel./Fax: (888) 899-3548
[email protected]
www.ama10.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Darwin Barrie, Chandler AZ
(480) 946-8955
Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV
(702) 870-6242
Jim Giffin, Redding CA
(916) 760-8291
Don Goeschl, Lancaster CA
(661) 940-6066
Don Gulihur, Santee CA
(619) 449-8397
Wayne Hamada, Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7733
Marc Karpowich, Logan UT
(435) 752-3639
Bill Malvey, Ladera Ranch CA
(949) 481-8621
Jerry Neuberger, Santee CA
(619) 258-4477
Bob Reynolds, Tucson AZ
(520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinators
George Steiner, Sacramento CA
(916) 362-1962
Eloy Marez, Santa Ana CA
(714) 540-4935
District X Volunteers
District X
Rich Hanson, District X Vice President; [email protected]
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
August 2007 167
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/08
Page Numbers: 167