And… they flew
19.9 meters – this distance was covered by a vehicle of students of the Silesian University of Technology during the Red Bull Flight Competition 2024 in Gdynia. This is the third result in the flight length category for forty teams from all over Poland.
Pat&Mat Aviation Expedition is the name of the team of students of the Silesian University of Technology who designed and built the flying machine themselves.
– It consists of a car, which is a reference to the iconic Pat & Mat fairy tale and a hang glider, which will speed up thanks to the rails on the roof of the vehicle and fly. We have created a large wing with a chord of about two meters and a span of ten meters – said Michał Sujkowski, a student of the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering before the start.
During the competition, the teams accelerate their vehicles on a platform from which they fly or spectacularly fall from a height of six meters to the water, to the delight of the audience gathered at Kosciuszko Square in Gdynia. The construction of students of the Silesian University of Technology flew to nearly 20 meters, which was quite a feat.
– I trusted our design and I think that with the favourable wind I could fly even further – reports Aleksandra Gruszka, who bravely soared into the air on the airfield. “Adrenaline was amazing, the water was warm, and the emotions associated with the performance in front of thousands of people were unforgettable. If I could, I would definitely repeat it!
Our team almost got on the podium taking fourth place. Congratulations on your courage, creativity, and sense of humour! We encourage everyone to watch a video of our students’ performance.
