A new fuel-efficient aircraft engine designed in part by Air Force Academy cadets has won an innovation contest sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

The patent-pending distributed propulsion engine uses "bleed" air to cut fuel costs by at least 50 percent. It works by redirecting excess air through the wing, creating more forward thrust with less fuel. It also is quieter than traditional plane engines.

Lt. Col. A.J. Rolling and now-2nd Lts. Giovanni Allevato, Jane Kaufmann, Stefan Morell, Luke Rockwell and David Simeroth — who were cadets 1st class when the project began last semester — were on the academy's winning team, which competed against teams from West Point and the Naval Academy.

Beginning spring semester, 10 Air Force Academy teams competed among themselves and created projects such as developing unmanned aerial vehicles to serve as wingmen for F-22 Raptors and creating miniaturized swarms of UAVs to perform reconnaissance and intelligence missions. Three teams from the Departments of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering went to Washington to represent the academy in DARPA's inaugural research competition.

The second team representing the academy presented research on a patent-pending global strike engine, which "combines long endurance and supersonic dash by combining the elements of a propeller engine with those of a jet engine." And the third team presented research on advanced intelligence and reconnaissance networks.

DARPA provided the academy $233,500 for the teams to compete in the pilot contest.

"After this year, [DARPA will] evaluate if they want to continue, expand it with more money, or end it," said James Solti, deputy director of research at the academy.

Rolling said his team's design could be used in traditional aircraft, and could also increase the now-limited flying time for military drones. He said he has briefed aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney on the invention.

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.

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