Now in its eighth year, the 2020 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge offered student teams from more than 80 high schools spanning 35 states the challenge of applying their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to make performance modifications to a Glasair Sportsman airplane using the Plane Maker program inside the X-Plane flight simulator software package. When the judging was complete, Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs, Georgia, was named the winner, with a team from Harkness Career and Technical Center in Cheektowaga, New York, as the second-place winner.
Georgia Team Wins 2020 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge
Key Takeaways:
- The 2020 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge tasked high school students with applying STEM knowledge to modify a Glasair Sportsman using X-Plane software, aiming to promote aerospace education and career interest.
- Riverwood International Charter School from Georgia won first place for their design, which included a substantially increased wingspan and retractable gear, and will receive a comprehensive general aviation experience as their prize.
- Harkness Career and Technical Center from New York secured second place with a redesign featuring a modified fuselage and increased propeller diameter, earning a Redbird Flight Simulations STEM Lab Camp.
- Despite the unforeseen challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, participating teams demonstrated innovation by collaborating virtually to complete the competition.
See a mistake? Contact us.
