A project to reduce helicopter blade noise and a supply chain shipping analysis took the top awards in the fall 2010 College of Engineering Project Design Showcase, held Dec. 9 at the HUB's Alumni Hall.
Two aerospace engineering faculty members were each named winners of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Sustained Service Award. The faculty members are Lyle Long, distinguished professor of aerospace engineering, and Philip Morris, the Boeing professor of aerospace engineering.
In a given week, Justin Ross spends 50 to 70 hours studying to become a mechanical engineer, 20 hours rehearsing for Blue Band and an additional 10 hours carrying out responsibilities as the band's president. That adds up to four days of nonstop activity. How do students with two such time-consuming commitments -- an engineering course load and Blue Band -- pull it off each week? Some say it's about time management. Some say it takes extreme dedication. Others say it requires working ahead -- but four members say that no matter how stressed they become juggling Blue Band and engineering, it's always worth it.
Jack Langelaan, assistant professor of aerospace engineering, and Alok Sinha, professor of mechanical engineering, were named American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) associate fellows among the class of 2011.
Robert Melton, professor of aerospace engineering in Penn State's College of Engineering, has been given the 2011 Faculty Adviser Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The award recognizes Melton's two decades of service as an adviser and mentor with Penn State's student AIAA branch. Melton was nominated for the award by George Lesieutre, head of aerospace engineering.
Aerospace engineering students will host the annual Haunted Helicopter Lab this week in 207 Engineering Unit C on Penn State's University Park campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, and noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. Visitors may enter the lab by taking the elevator on the west end of Engineering Unit C by Foundry Park. The event is sponsored by the Lord Corporation.
Though many people are aware of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and helicopter drones currently active in war, they may not know that UAVs go as far back as the 1960s. Now, an early drone dating from the 1960s has been restored and placed on display in a College of Engineering facility. One of the few remaining aircraft of its kind, the Gyrodyne QH-50 drone anti-submarine helicopter hangs in the second-floor lobby of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE) in Engineering Unit C.
Guion Bluford Jr., a 1964 graduate of Penn State's aerospace engineering program and the first black astronaut to fly in space, was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on June 5, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A native of Philadelphia, Bluford is a four-time space shuttle astronaut. He was a mission specialist and flight engineer on STS-8, the first night launch and landing of the space shuttle. Bluford also assisted in developing techniques for nighttime operations. He joined NASA's astronaut corps in August 1979 and logged more than 688 hours in space during his 13-year career.
Aerospace engineering faculty members have selected John Quindlen to receive the Anthony E. Wolk Senior Thesis Award. Quindlen was chosen for his senior thesis, titled "Design and Trim Organization of a Flying Wing UAV."
George Lesieutre, professor and head of aerospace engineering, was elected as a director at-large of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) on April 16.
Dennis McLaughlin, professor of aerospace engineering at Penn State, was recently selected as the recipient of the 2010 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aeroacoustics Award.
Terry Johnson, a graduate student in aerospace engineering, won first place in the paper competition at the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers' (SPIE) Smart Structures and Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring Conference.
Sven Bilen, associate professor of engineering design, aerospace engineering and electrical engineering; and Farhan Gandhi, professor of aerospace engineering; have been selected as associate fellows by the Associate Fellows Upgrade Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Mark Maughmer and Robert Melton, both professors of aerospace engineering at Penn State, have been selected to receive the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Sustained Service Award. The Sustained Service Award is presented to members of AIAA who show continuing dedication and contribute sustained, significant service to the institute. They will be honored at an AIAA conference later this year.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering will stage its annual Haunted Helicopter Lab this week on the second floor of Engineering Unit C. The haunted lab, which is free and open to the public, will take place noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Visitors may enter the lab through the elevator on the west end of Unit C, next to Foundry Park. The Engineering Units are located between Hammond Building and the Hintz Family Alumni Center.
