NMI Aeronautics to represent the NMI at nationals

CNMI Aeronautics team, from left, Gaeun “Melody” Yang, Ian Cataluna, Ann Margaret Norcio, Daniel Villarmero, and Chenoa Bunts-Anderson. (Contributed Photo)

Congratulations to the CNMI Aeronautics team for yet another win for the CNMI.

The CNMI Aeronautics team won the right to represent the region after dominating the state level test. The team will be competing and representing the Pacific this April in Washington D.C., for the 2017 Real World Design Challenge Competition national championship.

The winning CNMI team is composed of Ann Margaret Norcio, Daniel Villarmero, Ian Cataluna, Chenoa Bunts-Anderson, and Gaeun “Melody” Yang.

“As a team they have successfully solved a real world problem using higher order thinking skills for math analysis, engineering issues, business computations, local agricultural data, using million-dollar software and resources to design an unmanned aircraft system for precision agriculture,” said Jeaniffer H. Cubangbang, CNMI Aeronautics coach and RWDC coordinator.

Registered as a CNMI state team, these individuals represent all public and private schools of the CNMI. They completed the challenge as a self-led group, devoting every day to working in local establishments until they had their final design, business plan and notebook completed.

The CNMI Aeronautics gives thanks to:

Advisers Claus Bier and Dr. Timothy Kock, of the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service;

The mentors who assisted in the design approach: Manoj Rahematpura from Pratt and Whitney specializes in aero-structures and has advised the team in the structural parts of the aircraft. Capt. Christina Mastracchio was a mentor obtained after the previous team’s tour at the Anderson Air Force Base in Guam. As a pilot and an Air Force Academy and MIT graduate, she was able to provide the team with necessary feedback on our aircraft’s aerodynamics.

Douglass Brennan, general manager of Atkins Kroll Toyota based on Saipan, who provided critical comments on the team’s proposed business case. The team expresses great gratification for Brennan, who was always willing to provide them with a facility to work in even after the wake of Typhoon Soudelor.

Emory Frink, one of their trusted mentors, advised the team to the best of his knowledge providing logical suggestions on the aircraft’s maneuvers.
The team will showcase their winning design at the 2017 CNMI Island-wide STEM Fair this March.