Mangaluru: ‘Aerophilia 2017,’ the two-day annual aeromodelling competition, made a start on Friday with budding designers in the realm, displaying their skills with metal birds at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management.

The twin grounds next to the canteen had turned into hot spots with curious onlookers, mostly students, witnessing the model planes, copters and drones, taking off with tad raucous sound, before making a dash into the air.

Unlike previous year, the event in its second year had a highlight in Abdullah Jaseem and Eessa, a two-member team of flight enthusiasts from Dubai. Abdullah works as manager (permits) with the port and customs, health and environment at the known city in united arab emirates (UAE), while Eesa works at rescue wing of Dubai police.

Mention must be made of ‘Gaui NX7 series’ of copter model designed by Jaseem, that runs on less than 250 ML of aviation turbo fuel (ATF), against most of the metal birds operated with the help of battery powered engine. The fuel lasts for maximum six minutes. “It is also for the first time that I am (hand) operating the chopper in any air show after designing it in a short span of five days.”
Better response

In all, 30 student teams irrespective of age group representing different schools and colleges in the region have enrolled for the competition. It includes teams from AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra, Indian Institute of Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Sri Ramakrishna College, Srinivasa Institute of Technology, Delhi  Public School, NMAM Institute of Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Tamil Nadu, MVJ College of Engineering and ACS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Milagres High School, Manipal School Attavar, Mount Carmel Central School to name a few.

Drone race is another event for which 25 student teams have enrolled, with the spot registrations expected to increase the number of contestants.

Separate counters were opened for registration of teams, that have seen a rise this time, when the maiden aeromodelling contest held in 2016 saw just nine teams, said an official of the college.

The first prize winner will pocket Rs 75,000, second winner Rs 50,000 and third prize winner Rs 25,000.