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IMMEDIATE August 18, 2004	L. Kim Smith (703) 684-6777

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY TAKE TOP HONORS IN THE 2004 21ST ANNUAL AHS/INDUSTRY/NASA STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION

ALEXANDRIA, VA - AHS Executive Director M. E. Rhett Flater announced that the University of Maryland came in first place in the 21^st Student Design Competition graduate category and Georgia Institute of Technology captured second place honors. The US Air Force Institute of Technology won third place as well as the "New Entrant" category.

In the undergraduate category, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University won first-place. AgustaWestland was the sponsor of the 21st annual competition which rotates among Boeing, Sikorsky, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. and AgustaWestland. NASA has also been a major underwriter of this program

The AHS Student Design Competition, which challenges students to design a vertical lift aircraft which meets specified requirements, provides a practical exercise for engineering students at nationally accredited colleges and universities. The competition promotes student interest in vertical flight technology. The first- and second-place winning teams are awarded a cash stipend and the winning team is invited to the AHS Annual Forum and Technology Display to present their winning entry. Members of the teams receive one-day complimentary registration to the forum, the vertical flight industry's principal professional technical event. This year AgustaWestland also introduced a "New Entrant" category to stimulate interest in the competition.

This year AgustaWestland challenged participants to develop a helicopter specifically designed for high altitude rescue operations. The aircraft had to be certified for single pilot, day/night operations with cruise speeds of at least 145 knots.

For those interested in more information about the AHS Student Design Competition please visit our web site at http://www.vtol.org  The web site also contains the Request for Proposal for the 2005 AHS Student Design Competition. AHS International - The Vertical Flight Society is a professional, technical society founded in 1943, that represents the interests of the worldwide vertical flight industry.

AHS International, 217 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2538; (703) 684-6777; Fax (703) 739-9279; e-mail: Staff@vtol.org; Web Site: www.vtol.org

Past award recipients

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