Participants in the High School Design Competition gained hands-on experience in aerodynamics and teamwork.

The competition, Tuesday in the Centre for Engineering Innovation, attracted 18 teams from area secondary schools to modify model aircraft powered by an elastic-driven propeller. Winners were judged on the greatest distance airborne, as well as a presentation justifying their design decisions.

“We haven’t studied aerodynamics in our physics class yet,” said Alex Zalewski, a grade 11 student at Brennan Catholic High School. “Today, we really learned a lot about working as a team.”

Her classmates tried several different designs before hitting on the lightweight model they entered into the trials. Their 17-foot flight was good for second place in that part of the contest.

Brennan physics teacher Joe Latouf says he has brought students to participate for the past four years, and received positive responses each time.

“Challenges are good,” he says. “Embracing those challenges as a team is better.”

The event is a joint project of the Faculty of Engineering and the Engineering Students Society.