Student Projects
Estonian Aviation Academy supports and encourages students to create and participate in projects. Taking part in projects is an excellent opportunity for students to gain insight into how an organisation operates, apply their knowledge, acquire practical experience, and build new connections.
Ongoing projects:
BlueNimbus: building an Unmanned Aerial System and participating in the IMechE UAS Challenge competition
Objective: to build an
Unmanned Aerial System
to compete in the prestigious international IMechE UAS Challenge held in the United Kingdom. The competition is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is also well known as the organiser of the renowned Formula Student competition.
Project homepage: https://bluenimbus.ee/.
Student Rockets at the Estonian Aviation Academy
Students of the Aircraft Engineering programme design and build their own rocket prototype as part of the course Rocket Propulsion and carry out a test flight with it.
2025
The first student group successfully completed a test flight with their rocket in January 2025. During the test flight, the rocket called RP1 reached a maximum altitude of 439.1 metres, which is roughly the length of four football pitches.
2026
The second rocket built by the students, RP2, was approximately 500 mm long with a maximum internal diameter of 46.4 mm.
The test flight conducted at Tõutsi airfield confirmed the proper functioning of the rocket’s main systems. Liftoff and ascent were stable, the autonomous safety system was activated during the climb, and the parachute deployed successfully. The test flight reached an altitude of approximately 900 metres, which is nearly twice as high as in the project’s first year.
Completed projects:
Blue Sparrow: building an Unmanned Aerial System and participating in the IMechE UAS Challenge competition
Objective: to build an Unmanned Aerial System in order to compete in the prestigious international IMechE UAS Challenge held in the United Kingdom. The competition is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is also known as the organiser of the renowned Formula Student competition.
Blue Sparrow team results at the 2025 competition:
- Innovation Award;
- Operational Supportability Award.
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Blue Sparrow team results at the 2024 competition:
- 3rd place overall;
- special award in the airworthiness category.
Additional information:
- Project website: https://droonilabor.ee/
- Blue Sparrow student project lead: Miron Šois
- Academic support for the project: Oskar Saarepera, oskar.saarepera@eava.ee.
The student project has grown into the NGO Droonilabor.
Development of an EASA-certified parachute module for Unmanned Aerial Systems
Objective: to develop an EASA-certified universal parachute module compatible with all rotorcraft and helicopter-type Unmanned Aerial Systems. The aim is to improve safety in drone operations and enhance their airworthiness in higher-risk areas.
Project period: June 2023 - June 2025
Funder: state budget funds for research and development
The student project has grown into the NGO SafeDrone Systems.