Teen wins Sikorsky helicopter challenge

STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Imagine a teenager designing a helicopter that catches the attention of Sikorsky engineers. Well, it's science fact, not fiction.

"I'd like, probably, somebody else to fly it first, make sure it doesn't crash," said Ethan Chu, Sikorsky content winner.

Like a helicopter, the cream always rises. Sixteen-year-old Chu, of Indiana, is at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford after winning the company's second annual Helicopter 2050 Challenge. He answered this year's theme requiring an environmentally-friendly design with his AH-9 Diamondback.

"I found this effect. It was used during the Cold War," Chu said. "They were trying to design a hovercraft with this. So I decided I could use this on a helicopter."

The Coanda Effect, by name. Tough to describe, you might want to look it up. Tougher still, to raise the eyebrows of the Sikorsky engineers who judged.

"The Coanda Effect is kind of unique. I haven't seen anything where it's been used before, but, you know, like I said, people look at things, they come up with great ideas," said Vern Van Fleet, Sikorsky engineer. "It's carrying it forward and getting it to the point where it's actually do-able. And, maybe this will kick-start that."

Thirty-year engineer Vern Van Fleet says he's so impressed by Chu's design, he can imagine the young talent as a future colleague, at the very least.

"I'll probably be reporting to him," Van Fleet said laughing.

For his efforts, the high school sophomore gets a $1,000 scholarship, a trophy, and an assembly line tour. Sikorsky, which runs the contest with help from an organization called "By Kids, For Kids," gets something in return.

Understanding what the schools are teaching them, helping to have influence on that, and how it applies to us, and then keeping tabs with these kids so that, when they do graduate they are working for us," said Judy Bankowski, Sikorsky VP and CIO.

Hopefully taking Sikorsky and some budding careers to new heights.