Perry High School aerospace students showcased their engineering skills and teamwork at the OSU Speedfest Competition on Saturday, April 25, held at the Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station in Stillwater.
Speedfest is a high-speed aircraft design competition aimed at fostering enthusiasm for aviation and unmanned aircraft development. The event features two flight classes: the Alpha Class, designed for advanced collegiate-level teams, and the India Class, an invitational division open to students in grades 5 through 12. Perry High School competed in the India Class.
The competition challenges teams to complete as many laps as possible within two minutes on a 330-foot course using an electric-powered aircraft. Teams are allowed to redesign and modify their airframes to improve performance, within specific guidelines.
Leading up to the event, participants completed extensive preparation, including required training sessions, pre-flight inspections, and field testing days.
Perry High School’s aerospace program, led by instructor Ron Dwyer, brought two teams to the competition—one composed of freshmen and the other of sophomores. Both teams delivered strong performances among a field of 45 competitors. The freshman team tied for 16th place, while the sophomore team earned an impressive tie for 3rd place.
PPS STEM Coordinator Amanda Wilson expressed pride in the dedication and effort shown by both teams throughout the project. “We are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work, persistence, and commitment to success. They invested significant time outside of the classroom to practice real-world engineering and aviation concepts, and it showed in their performance at a highly competitive event. The growth we see in them—both individually and as teams—is exactly what hands-on programs like this are meant to achieve.”
Wilson also credited the strength of the program’s leadership for its continued success. “Mr. Dwyer does an outstanding job leading the aerospace program. His ability to guide students through complex engineering challenges while encouraging problem-solving, collaboration, and professionalism is a major reason this program continues to thrive. His leadership helps students not only compete, but truly grow in confidence and skill within the field of aerospace.”
In addition to instruction from Mr. Dwyer, the PHS Speedfest teams have also been under the mentorship of Perry Municipal Airport Director and Certified Flight Instructor, Terence Hulet. “We are grateful for the knowledge and experience that Terence brings. This partnership has been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing work with Terence and the Perry Airport,” Wilson said.
Competition results reflect the continued growth and success of Perry High School’s aerospace program and its commitment to providing students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences in aviation and engineering.