sealPurdue Story Ideas, Events
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November 18, 2002

PURDUE EVENTS

Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Student teams' blimp race lifts off
Friday, Nov. 22 – Board of Trustees meeting

 

Events

Student teams' blimp race lifts off Wednesday
• Wednesday, Nov. 20.
9:30 a.m. at the Purdue Armory on the West Lafayette campus. Two teams of Purdue students will compete in the Great Blimp Race. The two blimps, each with three helium-filled balloons for lift and two electric motors for propulsion, were by designed seniors from the School of Mechanical Engineering and students from the Department of Aviation Technology. During the race, each radio-controlled blimp will navigate a predetermined course inside the Armory. Each blimp will be required to pick up and drop a 4-ounce payload. With top cruising speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, team pilots will have to blend speed and control to avoid going off course. The race is the culmination of months of planning, analyzing and building. Teams will compete under the direction of John Nolfi, manager of the Product Engineering and Realization Laboratory in the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Ronald Sterkenburg, assistant professor of aviation technology. The race is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Nolfi, (765) 765-496-7869 or (765) 474-0078, nolfijg@ecn.purdue.edu.

Board of Trustees meets Friday
• Friday, Nov. 22.
9 a.m. Stewart Center, Room 326. Board of Trustees meeting.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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