Prize awarded for the top aeronautical engineering project at Auckland University

Each year, members of the Auckland Branch support engineering students by helping judge the final year projects.  The Branch also awards prizes for the top aeronautical engineering project.

The Society's judges this year were two graduates of the School of Engineering; Richard Leaper (now with Altitude Aerospace Interiors) and Gerard Robertson (Air New Zealand).  Richard and Gerard have several years' of judging experience at these project presentation days, which they describe as both a privilege and a pleasure (while also feeling about a million years old compared to the students).

Judge Gerard Robertson, Immediate Past President of the RAeS NZ Division

This year, the Branch prize went to Muhammad Abd Hakim and Ahmad Abu Zamir, for their work on the “Structural Design and Analysis of Multipurpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle”.  The judges were impressed with the work they had done, evaluating different configurations and constructing scale models of structural elements.

Judge Richard Leaper from the Auckland Branch

The Auckland Branch intends to continue its support and hopes to extend it by suggesting suitable project topics and providing mentoring during the academic year.

Bruce Cunningham, WW2 Lancaster pilot, who attended the Bomber Command Memorial unveiling in London on 28 June 2012

Wellington Branch Meeting, 5:30pm for 6:00pm start – Wednesday, 17 October 2012
National SCOUT Centre, Level 1, 1 Kaiwharawhara Road, Wellington, NZ

This month the Branch is welcoming Bruce Cunningham who was selected as part of the New Zealand delegation that travelled to London earlier this year to take part in the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London by Her Majesty the Queen.
Bruce served as a Lancaster pilot and was shot down during a bomber raid over Europe. All of his crew members were able to exit the aircraft without serious injury due in no small part by the emergency actions
instigated by Bruce. He became a POW and has some interesting experiences to recount.
Following his return to New Zealand he continued to work in the accounting profession in which he still has an involvement! He is a well known figure with his familiar hat as a collector on Poppy Day each year and is probably the oldest collector in our local area.
Bruce is the oldest living Life Member of the Wellington Aero Club where he served with distinction as Secretary for a number of years. He was also the Secretary of Gliding New Zealand for a lengthy period.
Bruce found the visit to London to be a remarkable experience and he will be sharing some of these
memories with us. The Branch can look forward to a very interesting and informative presentation.