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High School competition winners
New Aeronautics Competitions for the 2007-2008
Academic Year
The Fundamental Aeronautics Program of the Aeronautics
Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters announces
a new aeronautics competition for high school and college
students for the 2007-2008 academic year. Students
are asked to think about a revolution in aircraft, a
vehicle that could become a next generation DC-3* type
of transport vehicle. High school students
are invited to write an essay describing how the transportation
of goods and passengers might be revolutionized with
a revolutionary aircraft design. College level
students are invited to design the aircraft, using guidelines
provided by NASA, and suggest a minimum of three valid
operational scenarios for their proposed vehicle. Complete
details for each group are found on the following pages.
High School Contest
University Contest
* Excerpted from Wikipedia: The Douglas DC-3 is
a fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized
air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Because of its lasting impact on the airline
industry and World War II, it is generally regarded as one of the most significant
transport aircraft ever made.
Even today, over 70 years after the DC-3 first flew, there are still small operators
with DC-3s in revenue service and as cargo planes. The common saying among aviation
buffs and pilots is that "the only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3." The
aircraft's legendary ruggedness is enshrined in the lighthearted description
of the DC-3 as "a collection of parts flying in loose formation." Its
ability to start and land on grass or dirt runways also makes it popular in developing
countries, where the runways may not always be a paved surface.
Excerpted from Boeing.com:
The Douglas DC-3, which made air travel popular and airline profits possible,
is universally recognized as the greatest airplane of its time. Some would argue
that it is the greatest of all time.
Recommended reading:
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/DC-3/Aero29.htm
http://www.aviation-history.com/douglas/dc3.html
http://www.boeing.com/history/mdc/dc-3.htm
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