Case Study: Lycée René Perrin builds and flies mini Airbus A380 replicas with SolidWorks Education Edition

Building mini Airbus jets in the classroom with SolidWorks Education Edition

Lycée René Perrin, a French vocational-technical school, needed to equip students across four European vocational schools in the BAC Pro Machining Technician (TU) program to design and build four fully functional, 1:32 scale replicas of the Airbus A380. To solve the multinational communication and production-documentation challenge, the school selected SolidWorks and specifically the SolidWorks Education Edition for design, modeling and engineering drawing generation.

Using SolidWorks Education Edition for 3D design, simulation, drawing output and manufacturing documentation, student teams in France, Germany, Hungary and Spain designed and produced parts (including front and rear landing gear), completed testing and assembly, and ultimately assembled and flew all four mini A380s. SolidWorks enabled cross‑institutional collaboration, mirrored real industrial development cycles, supported the two‑year TU project and delivered measurable results—four flown aircraft, hundreds of spectators at maiden flights, and enhanced CAD/CAM skills for participating students.

Lycée René Perrin

Marc Treillhou

Mechanical Engineering Professor