Engineering students reached new heights in winning a prestigious aircraft design contest alongside one of the top research universities in America.
The team of five students from Glyndŵr University in Wrexham – all employees at the Airbus factory in Broughton – were named joint first alongside the University of Dayton, Ohio, in IT Flies UK 2015.
The competition challenges students to design their own aircraft using a flight simulator made by competition organisers Merlin Flight Simulation Group.
Glyndŵr University’s team – Awais Munawar, James Tudor, Peter Webster, Nathan Wong and Jonathan Aragon Escobosa – constructed a virtual model of a glider which was tested by a professional test pilot on the way to scooping the top prize.
The Airbus apprentices are completing a Foundation Degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Glyndŵr University as part of their training.
Teams from hosts Swansea, Manchester, Sheffield Hallam and Cambridge universities also competed in the competition.
Phil Storrow, head of engineering, said the achievement reflected the strength of aeronautical engineering training at Glyndŵr University.
“It was a fantastic win for our students and we’re extremely proud of their victory,” said Phil. “Every other team in the competition included students studying at a higher level which makes the achievement even more outstanding.
“This demonstrates the value of industrial partnerships we have with employers such as Airbus, which gives students a real competitive advantage.”
UK General Manager and HR Director for Airbus, Mark Stewart, added: “This is a great achievement by everyone in the team and it’s great to see future leaders in the aerospace industry demonstrating their skills and knowledge. I want to congratulate our team and everyone who took part in this.”
The University of Dayton has a proud history of aeronautical engineering education and is home to the US Air Force’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It is the number one catholic university in the US for sponsored engineering and development.
Glyndŵr University received delivery of the Merlin flight simulator in 2009. The high-tech piece of kit is designed to replicate as closely as possible the experience of flying an aircraft – and the engineering technology which underpins them.
