Team Vimaanas, the student team of VIT University bagged the first position in the Asia-Pacific Region category at SAE Aero Design @ East, an international competition for technical students held recently at Lakeland, Florida, the U.S.
According to a release, Team Vimaanas is one of the most consistently performing international teams that specialises in the design and fabrication of highly efficient, light-weight, portable remote-controlled air planes. It is a mix of aero-modelling enthusiasts, technical experts and neatly suited up managers all moulded into one perfect team. Vimaanas had the onus of producing the best finishes in the SAE Aero Design competition every year.
The team led by Thundil Karuppa Raj R., and including Chadha, Faiz Khan, Akshath Sharma, Samapnn Arora, Rushit Shah, Madhav Menon, Ronak Pramod, Ron George, Poondla Aneesh, G. Jagdish Kishore, Arohi V. Deore, Mahir Raitani, Jerowin Rayen, Joel Mathew, Ankur Fartyal, Vishal Kamalakannan, Suhaas Mohandas, Aniket Bhirangi and Aviraj Jain produced the plane through excellent team work, thus achieving a reassuring result after many flight tests.
The structure and aesthetics of the plane and its ability to carry the payload was lauded by one and all at the competition.
The plane weighed just 330 gm and was able to lift a weight of 950 gm, a payload that was three times its actual size. It had a wingspan of 36” x 36” and about three feet from tip to tail. With these exact dimensions and an excellent presentation and performance, the team was adjudged the sixth best team overall and stood first in the Asia-Pacific Region. It was also awarded the second prize for highest payload lifted, the fourth prize for the highest payload fraction, and the sixth prize for its design.
G. Viswanathan, VIT Chancellor, said that VIT encouraged its students to actively take part in such technical events as they provide a unique platform for them to experiment and broaden their horizons while gaining a rich and practical experience.
