Flying – The Destiny of a Student from the Technical University in Plovdiv

Yes—for Atanas Dimitrov, a second-year student majoring in Aviation Engineering and Technologies at the Technical University of Sofia – Plovdiv Branch, aviation is exactly that.

His father is a reserve military pilot, and his brother, Petar Dimitrov, graduated from the same major and is currently pursuing his Master's degree. Atanas himself touched a real military helicopter when he was just four years old. His desire to build his own aircraft later led him to an aeromodeling club in his hometown of Asenovgrad. By the 7th grade, Atanas had already designed and built his first small electric radio-controlled airplane. The flying machine was not a replica of an existing aircraft, but rather the seventh-grader's own original design. Three years ago, he also built his first racing drone.

"For me, it all started with the desire to fly. Later came my fascination with aircraft, and as I grew up, I figured out how to achieve my goals—through education," shares Atanas Dimitrov. "Currently, I am studying the airplane as a machine, with the vision of eventually becoming an aircraft mechanical engineer. After that, I want to become a pilot. The state has given me the opportunity to study at the Technical University – Plovdiv Branch almost for free and become an engineer. In contrast, obtaining a pilot’s license requires paid training in two stages—for small aircraft and for large commercial transport planes—which is a significant financial investment."

Competing on the European Stage.

While working toward his dream of flying large airplanes, Atanas is an active competitor. He pilots radio-controlled aircraft and recently participated, alongside his brother, in the first round of the European Aeromodeling Championship in Larissa, Greece. He was one of 60 competitors, joining a strong presence of 10 Bulgarian aeromodelers. His competition glider is manufactured in Bulgaria by NAN Models, a company whose world-class quality has elevated Bulgarian aeromodeling to an exceptionally high standard. With this model, Atanas plans to compete in every round of the European Championship.

"We competed in the F5J class, which involves electric gliders that we launch to a specific altitude using the electric motor. At the 30-second mark—or earlier if we've reached a competitive height—we shut off the engine. From then on, we glide," Atanas explains. "The plane flies borne entirely by its own wings, without motor power. This lasts for 10 minutes, and the heat concludes with a precision landing on a designated spot. The true mastery lies in feeling and 'riding' the air currents. There are 10 planes in each heat, all taking off simultaneously at the sound of the starting siren. The winner is the one who cuts the motor at the lowest altitude, achieves the best flight time, and lands most accurately. We performed well—my brother took 18th place, and I finished 26th. I consider this a strong result because the other competitors were highly experienced, and we were up against members of foreign national teams who do this almost professionally."

Just days ago, the two brothers also competed in a national tournament near Rakovski, Plovdiv region, securing excellent results once again: Petar ranked 5th, and Atanas took 18th out of 26 elite competitors.

Back to the Classroom.

According to the ambitious sophomore, the most challenging part of his engineering education is happening right now. For a student who flies planes and drones, the biggest struggle at university is time management—allocating enough time to master all subjects.

"In the second semester of our second year, we have a lot of course projects," Atanas explains. Currently, he is tasked with designing a gear reducer, followed by projects related to the Theory of Mechanisms and Machines.

"Our professors help us immensely. Even when we make mistakes, especially during laboratory classes, they encourage us to keep trying. After university, I plan to build my career in the constantly evolving field of unmanned aviation, as well as to earn my commercial pilot's license. To achieve this, I am ambitious to grow within innovative companies dedicated to the advancement of aviation in various directions," the young student concludes.