The Fenix floats on air
Students build and pilot hovercraft
A project two years in the making flew into JMU history - and more
than a foot off the ground - providing students many more lessons than
the expected ones in physics and engineering.
From the drawing board to a highly publicized demonstration flight,
JMU's 550-pound hovercraft is the creation of 10 integrated science
and technology and computer science students. It's called the Fénix
- an altered spelling of Phoenix, the mythical bird that immolates itself
and rises anew from the ashes. This craft rose to its current purple-and-gold
glory from a pile of Styrofoam, wood and fiberglass. At times, not even
its creators thought it would fly.
But fly it did. On April 17, about 140 people gathered on a field behind
the University Recreation Center to watch the craft ascend to about
14 inches and zoom around in large, controlled circles. Applause from
children, adults and the media topped off what had been a long, grueling
project.
The hovercraft idea came to JMU in 2000 with the hiring of ISAT professor
Karim Altaii. "When I got here, I did not see many projects that
students could become involved in. I come from a mechanical engineering
background in which your pride is your product. You can talk about design,
theory and simulation, but if you don't show something actually working
you have not accomplished anything," he says.
Altaii had no trouble finding students willing to take on the project,
and work began in January 2001. Everything from aerodynamics and physics
to engineering and the fundamentals of gasoline engines had to be researched
and applied.
Peter Denbigh ('02) from Spencer, W.Va., piloted the hovercraft in
its first public flight. "Product and team management and coordination
of the two proved to be the most difficult aspect of the project,"
says Denbigh. "We had to rely on desire and self-motivation, and
learned a number of valuable lessons - not the least of which was to
be generous in making time estimates and not to make promises that can't
be met."
Story by Charles Culbertson
Photo by Mark Miller, News-Leader
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