The Wright Brothers would be proud.

Students from elementary through college age will test their ability to make something fly in the first Mountaineer Glider Competition April 25 at West Virginia University.

The competition will take place at the Student Recreation Center on WVU s Evansdale Campus. Team check-in will begin at 10 a.m., with flights starting at 11 a.m.

The glider competition is sponsored by WVU s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Design Team and the student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Both are composed of students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in WVU s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

Student teams from elementary, middle, high school and college will design and build small gliders with the goal of getting them to fly as far and for as long as they can.

Teams must preregister and submit a $10 entry fee by April 4. Proceeds will be split between WVU Childrens Hospital and the UAV Design Team.

Prizes of $50, $25 and $10 will be awarded to first, second and third-place teams.

This competition is great for all ages,said Shanti Hamburg, aerospace engineering graduate student and competition organizer.The principles and concepts are simple enough for elementary school students to understand, but complex enough to challenge professionals. Balsa wood, tissue paper and white glue make ideal materials.

Teams must design and build the gliders themselves; no commercial components are permitted. The aircraft must fit within a 3-by-3-foot square and weigh three pounds or less. A mechanical launch system will be used, and the aircraft must be compatible with it.

Complete contest information, rules and registration forms are available athttp://www.mae.cemr.wvu.edu/gliders. The Web site also includes links to design hints.

For more information, e-mail shamburg@gmail.com or call 304-290-2628.