Dignitaries at the inauguration of AeroIgnite 2026, a national-level aeromodelling competition, at JSS STU in Mysuru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram
Marking a decade of student-led aerospace innovation, JSS Science and Technology University (JSS STU) on Thursday inaugurated AeroIgnite 2026, a national-level aeromodelling competition that brought together 24 teams from engineering institutions. Organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), the event is touted to be the first aeromodelling competition of its kind in the Mysuru region.Amith Byrappa, senior manager, API Management and Data Governance at Collins Aerospace, Bengaluru, who inaugurated the competition, highlighted the rapid transformation of industries through Artificial Intelligence and observed that employers increasingly value practical problem-solving abilities gained through hands-on technical activities. Encouraging participants to aim higher, he urged them to view competition as a stepping stone towards greater achievements in their academic and professional journeys.Presiding over the event, A.N. Santosh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of JSS STU, expressed satisfaction over the enthusiastic response from institutions across the country. Stressing the need to keep pace with technological advancements, he urged students to continuously upgrade their knowledge and skills to meet evolving industry demands.The occasion also witnessed the release of the 10th anniversary newsletter of AeroJC, the university’s aeromodelling club. C. Nataraju, principal of SJCE, and G. Mallesh, professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, felicitated the chief guest.AeroIgnite 2026 is centred around an RC Aircraft Target Drop Challenge, requiring participants to design, build and operate unmanned fixed-wing aircraft using principles of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and flight mechanics. Organisers said the competition has been designed to international standards, drawing on AeroJC’s decade-long experience in global aeromodelling contests.Founded in 2016 by six engineering students, AeroJC has grown into a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 active members and a global alumni network of over 200 engineers. Over the past decade, the club has represented JSS STU seven times at the prestigious SAE Aero Design competitions in the United States, earning several top rankings and podium finishes.Participating institutions include R.V. College of Engineering, MIT Manipal, NMIT, Dayananda Sagar institutions, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, NIE Mysuru, MIT Mysore and St. Joseph Engineering College, among others. The competition will conclude on Friday with a valedictory function and prize distribution ceremony. Published - June 04, 2026 06:46 pm IST
