This week, Stowe Maries Aerodrome in Essex hosted the UK Aerospace and Rocketry Challenge national final. Organised by ADS and sponsored by Lockheed Martin, the UK’s largest youth model rocket competition is now in its tenth year.
Designed to inspire young people about space and encourage them to consider careers involving science, technology, engineering or maths, the UK Aerospace and Rocketry Challenge had an overwhelming number of entrants this year. More than 185 students and 34 teams from across the UK took part in preliminary rounds.

The UKAYRoC national champions are: Team ‘Altran 1’ from Abbeyfield School, from Chippenham, Wiltshire.

2016 winner abbeyfield school team 2 sebastion millwards michel clack alexander wilshire

 

 

The runners up were:

2) Team ‘Altran Thunderducks’ also from Abbeyfield School

3) Steward’s Academy

4) Shenfield School

5) Ormiston Rivers Academy

Working with strict measurement conditions and a target altitude of 850 feet, the teams had to design and build a rocket, which would carry two raw eggs and return them safely to the ground. The teams gained an insight into the aerospace industry’s engineering design and testing processes.

The teams were scored on total flight duration, rocket altitude, recovery of the eggs (intact) and damage to rocket structure.

Of the 34 teams that entered, 13 made it through to the national final:

From the South East (Essex)

Two teams from Castle View School, Canvey Island

Stewards Academy, Harlow

Two teams from Shenfield School, Brentwood

Chelmer Valley School, Broomfield

Ormiston Rivers Academy, Burnham-on-crouch

Two teams from James Hornsby School, Basildon

South West
Two teams from Abbeyfield School, Wiltshire

North
All Saints Church of England Academy, Stockton-on-tees

Northern Ireland
Rainey Endowed, Magherafelt

 

UKAYRoC 2016 group

 

 

Abbeyfield School now face teams from the USA, Japan and France, who have each competed in their own national rocketry competitions. The international final will be held at Farnborough International Airshow, on Friday 15 July 2016. GOOD LUCK ALTRAN 1!

On Friday 15th July, student groups (aged 11 -21) are able to attend Farnborough International Airshow for free. For more information and to register, click here:

https://secure.smartregister.co.uk/events/farnborough/2016/FIA_FDA/register/start.aspx