Chicken Wings BUT is a student team founded in 2014 by a group of talented, aviation-enthusiastic students from the Institute of Aerospace Engineering (IAE) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME), Brno University of Technology (BUT).
The team consists mainly of bachelor’s degree students who, despite their demanding academic workload, devote their free time to designing, building, and competing with their own aircraft
A Multidisciplinary Challenge Beyond Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft design and development is a complex, multidisciplinary challenge that goes beyond traditional aerospace engineering. While the core team consists of students from the IAE, many project aspects require expertise from other fields. Therefore, the team welcomes students from various institutes and faculties across BUT. These include electrical engineering, material science, and software analysis.
As a result, this collaboration allows the team to integrate advanced technologies into their aircraft designs. For example, they incorporate control systems, aerodynamics simulations, lightweight composite structures, and avionics. By combining knowledge from different disciplines, they create innovative and high-performance solutions.
Through teamwork and hands-on experience, members of Chicken Wings BUT develop essential skills in engineering, project management, and problem-solving. Moreover, they compete at the highest international level, applying their theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. Ultimately, this experience prepares them for successful careers in the aerospace industry.
International Competitions
Air Cargo Challenge
In this competition, students design, build, and fly an aircraft made of carbon/glass fiber composites. The main goal is to carry as much payload as possible while adhering to strict regulations regarding the power unit, wingspan, takeoff distance, and payload shape.
- 2015: At the very first competition that Chicken Wings participated in, they placed 14th out of 23 teams, with the aircraft Fabrick in Germany
- 2017: 13th place with aircraft Librick in Zagreb, Croatia
- 2019: 7th place with aircraft FausT, in Stuttgart, Germany
- 2022: The team placed 5th out of 26 international teams with their aircraft Black Swan in Munich, Germany.
- 2024: 19th place out of 30 teams with aircraft Salamander in Aachen, Germany. This was the first time the team encountered unexpected technical issues and unfavorable weather conditions.
New Flying Competition
Held in Hamburg, Germany, this competition challenges teams to design and build more complex aircraft.
- 2018: The team won 1st place with Shark, a unique aircraft featuring folding wings and a retractable landing gear system
- 2022: They finished 2nd place with ORCA, a quadcopter designed as an Optical Recognition Cargo Aircraft.
SAE Aero Design
Beyond Europe, Chicken Wings BUT also competes in the USA. Organized by SAE International and supported by Lockheed Martin, ANSYS, and MathWorks, this competition challenges teams to design, build, and fly aircraft in one of three categories.
- 2020: The team competed in the Regular Class with aircraft Golem in Florida, USA. The objective was to carry as many metal plates in shape of football ball, as possible while maximizing wingspan for bonus points. Team placed the 12th.
- 2023: Obelix finished 7th place in SAE Aero Design East (Florida, USA), featuring a 5.5-meter wingspan and an 8kg payload.
Looking Ahead – New Challenges on the Horizon
Today, Chicken Wings BUT is actively preparing for its next competition, tackling a new set of engineering and logistical challenges. To succeed, the team is working tirelessly to refine aircraft designs, improve performance, and push the boundaries of student-driven innovation.
As they embark on another international competition, their passion for aerospace engineering continues to drive them forward. With dedication and teamwork, they strive to achieve even greater success on the global stage.
The president of Czech Republic
The president visited the university and had the opportunity to see the results of the student team’s hard work. He was impressed by their innovative approach, dedication, and achievements. During the visit, he praised their efforts and expressed support for further development, highlighting the importance of young talent in shaping the future.
Sponsors
