Magnificent Flying Machines

Final year students from the department of aerospace engineering recently showcased their aircraft designs to engineers from major aerospace firms, including Qantas, British Aerospace and Boeing.

Four groups of students presented models, which included an unmanned military craft designed to strike defended targets, a microplane created to carry sensors, a long-range small airliner for Pacific flights and a light aircraft for personal transport.

UNSW is one of the few places in Australia carrying out advanced project design and associated testing. Industry representatives were looking for the potential to advance aerospace technology: students were grilled on flight performance, cost, potential markets, use of modern design tools, and how the designs handle turbulence.

"Industry is interested because we're pushing technology through this advanced design and seeing where it's likely to go," said John Page, senior lecturer in aerospace engineering.

"The students are essentially doing an advanced project study in an area selected by local and regional experts. The big companies will look at these designs and decide with financial and technical advice whether the exercise has identified technologies, projects or individuals that could offer a return on future investment," he said.