A ten-student Penn State team took third place in the 2000 National General Aviation Design Competition Monday. NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration announced the award in a special ceremony at AirVenture 2000 at Oshkosh, Wis.

The team, advised by professor emeritus of aerospace engineering Barnes McCormick, designed "Alnighter," a modern, composite general aviation aircraft. The six-passenger, single engine, propeller-driven plane has a conventional layout, featuring sophisticated aerodynamics and advanced systems and avionics.

All members of the team will share a $1,000 prize.