FROM STAFF REPORTS

Calera High School will join 18 other Alabama High Schools in the Real World Design Challenge, an annual aerospace and engineering design competition with participants from around the world.

“With this being Alabama’s first year participating in the Real World Design Challenge, the number of high schools interested has exceeded our expectations,” Alabama Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey wrote in a press release.

Ivey is also a Real World Design Challenge advocate and vice chair of the Aerospace States Association.

“Alabama schools will be great competitors statewide as well as nationally, and I look forward to seeing their designs,” Ivey continued. “Aerospace is a rapidly growing field, and, hopefully, this challenge will help prepare our students for a successful future career in the industry.”

The teams are using the provided $1 million worth of professional engineering software and access to mentors from industry, government and academia to design an efficient, low-carbon-emission and environmentally friendly persona light sport aircraft.

The submission deadline for all participants is Feb. 6, and the aircrafts will be judged from Feb. 7-17. The state champion will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national design competition.