Western Aerospace Centre
The Centre is part of the Aerospace Division of the IMechE, and represents western region industry and academia with interest in the aerospace industry.
The Honorary Secretary, Pauli Markkanen MEng CEng MIMechE can be reached by emailing wacsec@imeche.org
Western Aerospace Centre Prize 2012
A Recognition of Continuing Professional Development
Down select for the final of the WAC Prize Competition has been completed, and we are pleased to announce that the following entrants will present their work at the Presentation Evening on 23rd April.
- Matteo Bianchi, Rolls-Royce plc and University of Bristol: a novel generation of auxetic foams: mechanical and dynamic aspects.
- Dr Gergely Czel, University of Bristol:development of pseudo-ductile thin ply carbon-glass hybrid composite materials.
- Dr Raymond Devine, Airbus: the icing threat from aircraft fuel systems.
- Aleksander Kural, Cardiff University: wireless power transmission in plates using ultrasonic lamb waves.
The prize evening will be on the 23rd April at the Queens Building, University of Bristol. All are welcome to hear the finalists present their work before the panel select an overall winner. More details of the evening are contained in the flyer.
To find out more about this years rules, our prize competition rules are here. The prize tests the technical, business and communication skills required of an engineer when preparing and delivering a presentation to senior management within an organisation or to a conference or symposium.
The four competition finalists will have a full day with the Red Arrows. The overall winner will receive a £500 first prize, and runner up cash prizes will also be awarded.
Western Aerospace Centre Annual Prestige Lecture
2011 Prestige Lecture - The Eurocopter X3 Hybrid Helicopter - Making High Speed Cost-Effective
Jean-Michel Billig is Executive Vice-President Engineering at Eurocopter, responsible for the X3 programme.
There have been many attempts over the last six decades to develop commercially viable, high speed hybrid rotorcraft, from the Fairey Rotodyne of the 1950’s onwards.
Developed in great secrecy, the X3 technology demonstrator first flew in September 2010 and has since demonstrated speeds over 230kts.
Jean-Michel described the challenges of this innovative programme to achieve high speeds cost-effectively whilst retaining all the advantages of efficient vertical take-off and landing.
The lecture was held on Monday 31st October 2011 at the Chemistry Lecture Theatre, University of Bristol, Cantocks Close, Bristol BS8 1TS.
WAC Flyer - Prestige Lecture 2011 - Eurocopter X3 - Issue 2.pdf
Details of the 2012 Prestige Lecture will appear here closer to the time. Teh lecture is usually held in late October / early November.
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