Rayat Bahra University students bring laurels

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 22

Budding engineers of Rayat Bahra University added another feather to the institution’s cap after an aircraft designed and fabricated by them bagged the 3rd design position in the Asia and 13th in the world in the Aero Design Competition held at Van Nuys, California (USA).

The students, Ripdaman Singh Dhaliwal, Mandeep Singh, Robinder Singh, Jasvir Singh, Jasmeet Singh, Sehaj Judge, Varinder Singh Grewal, Sukhraj Singh, Palwinder Singh and Akashdeep Singh, under the guidance of Dr Jujhar Singh and Dr Ashwani Kumar, had designed and fabricated the aircraft.

Engineering students from 41 institutes across the world and 13 institutes of the country participated in the event that was hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International, USA.

The aircraft was adjudicated by experts from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The project costs Rs 25 lakh. The aircraft has a wing span of 84 inch, chord 13 inch, tail span 30 inch, centre of gravity from nose 19.97 inch and empty weight 9.48 lb.

Dr SK Bansal, Vice-Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, said the designed aircraft was capable of generating lift with payload. The aircraft had flown at the height of 787 ft and could lift a maximum payload of 20.71 pounds.

While designing the aircraft the principle of fluid and aerodynamic were applied to increase the lift capability of the aircraft. The material mechanics were also applied during the selection of materials so as to make the light aircraft that would be able to withstand any load that it experiences during a normal flight, he said.

The design and fabrication of the aircraft was done while keeping the aspects like cost, safety, availability of material, time, SAE design rules and other factors.

“The aircraft has cleared all static tests for the event and made the flights too,” said Gurvinder Singh Bahra, chairman, Rayat and Bahra Group of Institutes.

He said it was a proud moment for the institute that the aircraft, cars designed by its students have bagged positions at the international events for the fifth time.