"Aluminum Aeronautics: Project Unveiled by First-Year Mechanical Engineers in the School of Engineering"
University of Applied Sciences Pforzheim Students Build Aluminum Aircraft
In December 2017, first-year mechanical engineering students at the University of Applied Sciences Pforzheim constructed an aluminum aircraft as part of a competition called 'Flying-Aluminium' at the Faculty of Technology. The goal was to create an aircraft made entirely of aluminum with the longest possible flight duration, weighing no more than one kilogram and measuring 500 x 500 x 500 mm. Students were challenged to design aircraft inspired by technical, natural, and sporting role models, such as parachutes, rotors, gliders, and maple seed wings.
The aircraft was completed within a three-month project. Students designed aluminum drives to transport an M10 nut and learned about the chemical and mechanical properties of aluminum. The project fostered a harmonious and constructive work environment, confirming Jessica Seckinger's choice to pursue mechanical engineering.
The aircraft were evaluated based on flight duration, methodology, creativity, and presentation technique. The winning aircraft stayed aloft for 7.2 seconds, but the aluminum aircraft built by the engineering students achieved an impressive flight duration of approximately 4 minutes.
The first-year project involved extensive planning, tinkering, calculating, and practicing in the workshops. The competition has a long-standing tradition, providing students with a unique opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Only adhesive was allowed as an additional material, making the project a true testament to the students' ingenuity and skill.
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