Two top test pilots will be coming to Coventry next week as the
University plays host to IT FLIES, Merlin Flight Simulation Group's
Aircraft Design and Handling Competition 2011.
Teams from universities throughout the UK will be competing in
the event which takes place on Thursday 16 June at the University's
Faculty of Engineering and Computing and for the first time, two
teams from The University of Dayton, Ohio will be
participating.
Earlier this year, students from Coventry University went over
to Dayton to take part in the first IT Flies USA competition and
the American students are now making the trip to Coventry to take
part in the UK event.
Organised by Merlin Flight Simulation Group, this competition is
not just an aircraft design exercise.
Marion Neal, the Marketing Director from Merlin said:
"I'm delighted that we have two teams from the United States are
taking part this year as it will give the competition a truly
international feel."
The competition is judged in two parts:-
The presentation of the project material, drawings, models, and
lap top presentations of the aircraft design, and the flying and
assessment of the aircraft design in an MP521 engineering flight
simulator by Dave Southwood, tutor at the Empire Test Pilots
School, and Dave Mackay, Chief Test Pilot for Virgin Galactic.
How is a new aircraft conceived? It is designed,
simulated, evaluated, built and test flown. The test pilot provides
the link to the real world - IT FLIES shows the students that paper
designs do not necessarily translate into practical solutions!
The winner will receive £1,000 in prize money. Coventry
University students have won the competition for the past two years
so they will be hoping to complete the hat trick.
Chris Bland, Head of Department, Systems Engineering said:
"We are delighted to be hosting the event again at Coventry
University. Our students are looking forward to the challenge of
competing against the other universities and their counterparts
from the US. It would be the icing on the cake if the home team
were once again victorious."
Marion Neal concluded:
"This is an exciting competition for the students who enter and
as many of them would like to have a career within the aerospace
industry. Winning this is excellent for their CV."
The competition starts at 9.15am on Thursday 16 June in the
Aerospace Labs, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Alma
Building, Alma Street, Coventry.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk