Students launching the 310 water rockets simultaneously. Photo by Bernama
KUANTAN: The Malaysian Aviation Training Academy (MATA) today launched 310 water rockets and made it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR).
The feat was announced by MBR chief analyst Mohamed Alex Edward who presented a certificate of recognition to MATA chief executive officer Datuk Sulaiman Dahlan.
The effort by 16 and 17 year-old students broke the old record of 209 rockets held by SMKA Tun Ahmadshah in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on March 15, 2014.
Sulaiman said the record breaking effort by year 2,3 and 4 students of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer course was part of the requirement to pass the subject.
“They came across the previous record and said they wanted to do better. I challenged them to give their best.
“All their hard work including seven attempts, burning the midnight oil and the technical problems finally paid off,” he said after the launch at SMK(P) Methodist, here today.
Sulaiman said the MBR told them they had to launch at least 20 per cent more rockets than the previous record in order to be listed into the MBR.
“We were told that 300 (rockets) were sufficient but we chose 310 just to be on the safe side. We hope to hold the record for at least two years before embarking on another effort,” he said, adding the project costs RM18,000.
The water rockets were arranged in an aircraft shape to symbolise the aviation college and were launched using compressors. – Bernama