STINGRAE, or Short-Takeoff Integrated Nacelleless Geometry for Reduction of Acoustics and Emissions, is the creation of a six-member team from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

The commercial plane design won first place among the undergraduate entries in the 2008 Fundamental Aeronautics Student Competition, NASA announced on July 7.

STINGRAE blends the body, wings, and engines into a single aerodynamic shape to cut drag and noise. Team spokesperson Stephen Pace said the approach uses "radically simple engineering innovations" that would cut emissions by 30 percent over today's planes.

Other team members were Bakar Bey, Mike Fifer, Jon Frankenfield, Mike Lurie, and Cabin Samuels.

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