CourtesyWichita State professor Scott Miller dreamed of a competition in which students and the greater Wichita community would want to participate. Although some aerospace engineering students had been competing in different competitions for about 30 years, Miller wanted to see participation from all aerospace engineering students.
His vision became a reality nine years ago when he introduced the Bronze Propeller Competition, an event where teams use a small electric powered aircraft to meet competition objectives.
鈥淚 like competitions because it pushes the students,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淭here are always a lot of deadlines they have to meet and the competition element is cool.鈥�
This competition gives students the opportunity to go through all the stages of the design process. Students come full circle from the idea through designs, prototypes, ground-testing, demonstration, flight and delivery.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just applying concepts that they鈥檝e learned in previous classes,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a lot of practical things that you can鈥檛 learn until you really do them.鈥�
Aerospace students work to assemble their aircraft
The competition involves designing and building an aircraft that will be judged not only on its ability to fly, but also on its ability to complete an assigned mission.
This year鈥檚 mission was titled 鈥淎n Aerial Reforestation UAV.鈥�
Boeing sponsored the competition, which made the incentive to win even higher. Not only does the winning undergraduate team get their names engraved on a traveling trophy with a real bronze propeller, they also receive $3,000 in prize money.
Prize money is also awarded in the undergraduate category for second and third place, the high school category for first, second and third place, and the professional category for first place.
Past and current students participating in the competition feel their experiences in the class have been really valuable.
鈥淗onestly this class, the whole experience is kind of amazing,鈥� said Kevin Hagen, a graduate student whose team won the competition in 2016. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just an easy way to show potential employers that you actually have concrete skills that are valuable. It鈥檚 nice that we all get something to show at the end of it.鈥�
But it鈥檚 not just about having something that will impress future employers, it鈥檚 also about learning how to work as a team.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 definitely more hands-on than any of our other classes,鈥� said Amber Fischer, a senior aerospace engineering student. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really long-term process. We work with the same people for a year and I think that鈥檚 one of the most valuable aspects of this class.鈥�
2018 Bronze Propeller Competition winners
The 2018 undergraduate team winner was 鈥淚n Thrust We Trust,鈥� comprised of team members Ian Santry, Michael Thurman, Frederick Fair and Jorge Mosqueda-Espinosa.
Participants do not have to be part of Miller鈥檚 class to join the competition. Any undergraduate student can assemble their own team and participate. High school teams and graduate teams are also welcome and can compete in their own division.
For more information on this year鈥檚 winners and how to get involved in next year鈥檚 competition, visit .