See the quadcopter Balwearie High School pupils built take flight

By Cheryl Peebles

November 21 2022, 2:00pm

Balwearie's team ERA 1723 (from left) Poppy Mitchell, Jason Peacock, Mairi Campbell and Adam Christie. Image: supplied.

A quadcopter built by Balwearie High School pupils has won them a place in the national final of an aerospace firm’s competition.

The four-strong team spent weeks designing and creating their four-bladed, remotely-piloted air system.

They were among almost 100 schools from across the UK to enter the Raytheon Technologies Quadcopter Competition.

And team ERA 1723 – made up of Poppy Mitchell, Jason Peacock, Mairi Campbell and Adam Christie – will soon take their flying machine to the final being held in a central RAF location.

Watch the Balwearie quadcopter test flight

The Balwearie pupils went up against teams from Glenwood High School, Levenmouth Academy and Lochgelly High School at the regional final in Glenwood High School, Glenrothes.

Their quadcopter was built with sustainability in mind, from its materials to its purpose.

And they flew it through a timed obstacle course as judges from Raytheon Technologies STEM Ambassadors assessed their design and performance.

Their teacher Eric Williamson said: “It is hugely rewarding to see the many hours spent planning and prototyping have paid off.”

Making some on-the-spot repairs. Image: supplied.

The team will return to the workshop to make tweaks and improvements to its quadcopter ahead of the final in December.

Alex Rose-Parfitt, Raytheon UK engineering director, said: “It’s wonderful to see how students are using their imagination to find solutions to real-world, environmental issues that are impacting us all.”

Aerospace and defence company, Raytheon Technologies, holds the competition annually to encourage interest in STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – and young people to consider careers in these fields.