Wing commanders

(Photograph) - A team of students from Loughborough University and Virginia Tech, in the US, has won the innovative design category of the US National General Aviation Design Competition. The winning design is for a four-seater light aircraft, capable of driving on the road in bad weather or to get from home to the airfield. A telescoping mechanism for the wings allows them to be retracted for road use. Virginia Tech and Loughborough students exchanged visits and worked together, using internet and telephone conferencing. They won $3,000 (Pounds 2,064) for themselves and $5,000 (Pounds 3,438) for their academic departments to share. Details: www.aoe.vt.edu/teamga/