Speedfest XII Summary

2022-2023

Speedfest XII featured two aircraft competition classes:

Alpha Class: Collegiate-level Class where teams designed a high-speed rocket- electric powered airplane capable of high top speed as well as efficiency.

India Class: Middle/high school level Class where teams start with a "Speed Deamon" electric-powered pylon racer kit, and may modify the designs for top speed in pylon racing.

In addition to the flight competition, Speedfest included an Aero Expo that features interesting static displays and flight demonstrations. The displays and demonstrations included:

Static displays hosted by the Alpha Class teams: where industry judges and the public could learn more about the technology in their aircraft.
OSU High-Altitude Rocket Design Team: The team displayed their large rockets and associated launch equipment, and did a demonstration launch during Speedfest.
OSU Micro-Gravity Team: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering capstone design team that participates in the NASA Microgravity program.
Autonomous Firefighting Vehicle: Capstone design team of CEAT students that demonstrated an electric powered vehicle that could put out a fire.
Swarm UAV Launcher: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering capstone design team demonstrated a pneumatic launcher capably of launching multiple small aircraft.
Stillwater RC Fliers: The local RC club had aircraft on static display.
Sponsor Tents: Tents were available for industry and organization sponsors including Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, and DoDSTEM
RC Jet Aerobatics and jet-powered go-kart demonstrations
The Speedfest main event was held on April 28-29, 2023. Friday was early technical inspection, flight test, registration, and a "cookout" for the teams. Weather was rainy, but several teams were able to get in some practice flights. Saturday was competition day, and the weather was perfect for competition.

Participation and Attendance

Speedfest XII set a record for overall number of teams and students involved: In addition to the two Alpha Class teams and the 4 different collegiate capstone design teams, 31 India-class teams competed with their aircraft and achieved a record of over 1660 pylon flags during the event.

Pictures

Competition Photos

(courtesy of Dr. Thomas Hays)

Competition Photos

(courtesy of Dakota Keith)

Results

Final Standings for Alpha Class:

Competition between the collegiate teams was back and forth all day and was very close with Black team winning the pylon mission, and Orange team winning the top-speed mission. Scores were so close that the final winning team came down to the industry judges selection points which favored the OSU Black team. A consolation for Orange team was establishing an official all-time high speed for any OSU designed UAV of 240 mph.

Oklahoma State University Black "Vulcan"
Oklahoma State University Orange "Phoenix"

Final Standings for India Class:

Speedfest Cup (Winner of head-to-head final race of top scoring teams)

Meridian Technology Center, Yellow Jackets

Speedfest Flag Awards (Highest number of flags for a single heat)

1st Place: Meridian Technology Center, Yellow Jackets

2nd Place: OSU CEAT DoD STELLAR #2 (Educator team)

3rd Place: Union City Purple Cobras

India teams could also compete for additional awards. Judges consisted of aerospace engineering students from the OSU student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Pictures and videos of the teams and planes can be found in the "Pictures" and "Video" sections below. The following are the results:

Best Airplane Build: Mid-Del Tech Stars

Best Airplane Graphics: Mid-Del Tech Stars

Best Helmet: Mustang Aero RC Flyers

Team Spirit: Kiamichi Tech

Speedfest Educator of the Year: Chrystal Reis

Video

Speedfest XII featured a required competition category for 2 minute promotional videos. People from around the world voted for their favorite. Awards were based on industry judges choice for Alpha Class, and the highest number of "Likes" for India Class. The two winning videos are here:

OSU Orange "Phoenix" (Winner, best video Alpha Class)

Mid-Del Tech Stars(Winner, best video India Class)