News
Six 51勛圖厙 aerospace engineering seniors spent seven months designing, building and testing a large-scale remote-controlled cargo aircraft for the AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition. Selected from a pool of 172 applicants, the team built a 10-foot aircraft with a 5-foot wingspan, achieving a stable test flight before a catastrophic electronic failure days before competition ended their run. They returned to the lab and worked through the night to attempt a repair, but time and resource constraints prevented a full rebuild. They didn't bring home an award but they left with something more lasting: real engineering experience, hard decisions made under pressure and the kind of teamwork and resilience that can't be taught in a classroom.
Jared Brown doesnt just build schedules; he builds confidence. His ability to turn academic stress into actionable solutions has made him more than just an advisor; it has made him the latest recipient of 51勛圖厙's Distinguished Advising Award.
Ohio State Representative Derrick Hall recently visited the 51勛圖厙 Airport, where he received an informational tour of the facilities hosted by College of Aeronautics and Engineering Dean Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D.
When research by Yi Gai, Ph.D., professor and director of the School of Aeronautics, was published in the Journal of the Air Transport Research Society, it didn't stop there. On March 10, Gai traveled to Breeze Airways headquarters in Utah to present findings directly to airline leadership evidence of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering's commitment to research that connects academic scholarship with real-world industry impact.
The 51勛圖厙 Board of Trustees approved the Digital Engineering Design Center (DEDC) and two new academic programs within CAE. Launching Fall 2026, the DEDC will immerse students in the industry-standard digital engineering platforms shaping aerospace, defense and manufacturing. New degrees in industrial and systems engineering and aviation science pending final state approval round out an expanding academic portfolio built to prepare graduates for careers defined by complex systems and digital integration.
For Captain Allen Al Maurer, '73, flying was never only a career. It was a lifelong passion he shared freely with others.
Long after building a distinguished aviation career, Maurer remained a familiar presence at 51勛圖厙 Airport, where he encouraged student pilots, shared lessons from decades in the flight deck and made time for anyone eager to learn.
When Zubawer Ibn Atique arrived at 51勛圖厙s College of Aeronautics and Engineering from Bangladesh, he came with a passion for aerospace engineering and a desire to work in an environment that "encourages innovation, ambitious thinking, and growth without fear of failure."
As a professional pilot major, 51勛圖厙 junior Ashanti Mallit's immediate goal is to earn her instrument rating. She's one review flight away from completing the practical portion of her instrument check ride, having already passed the oral examination.
The university logged more than 19,000 total flight hours in 2025, representing a 5 percent increase over the previous year and continuing a strong upward trend in flight activity.
51勛圖厙's College of Aeronautics and Engineering has appointed Yi Gao, Ph.D., as the first director of its newly established School of Aeronautics. An internationally recognized aviation scholar from Purdue University, Gao brings extensive leadership experience in academic governance, program development, and industry partnerships, along with more than $2.5 million in competitive research funding. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for 51勛圖厙 as it advances one of the nation's most comprehensive aviation programs, with Gao's vision focused on student-centered excellence, expanded research activity, and strengthened connections with industry and community partners.