WEST PALM BEACH —  The 2013 Drop it, Build it, Fly it, Launch it, Thrill it competition, open to elementary, middle, and high school students, is almost here.

The 27th Annual Engineering Competition will be hosted by the South Florida Science Museum, in partnership with the Florida Engineering Society, on Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the museum, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. 

The event is free to competing students as well as the public. The registration deadline is March 2. 

Visit the competition’s website for additional information about registration, rules and regulations for all events: http://www.sfsm.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&content_id=297

Or contact Kate Arrizza, COO at the South Florida Science Museum, 561-370-7706 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or Greg Goebel, Science Program Planner with the School District of Palm Beach County, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Students again will compete for cash prizes in the following five areas:
• Drop It: The perfect egg container to protect it from a 3-story drop
• Build It:  An unbreakable bridge
• Fly It: The most aerodynamic paper airplane
• Launch It: The ultimate water bottle rocket
• Thrill It: A thrilling roller coaster

Egg Drop Containers (Drop it), Bridges (Build it), Rockets (Launch it), and Roller Coasters (Thrill it) must be complete and checked in at 8 a.m. on the day of competition. Airplanes (Fly it) will be built by individual students on the day of competition. 

Individuals or teams of two may compete in Drop it, Build it, and Launch it.  Individuals or teams of up to four may compete in Thrill it. 

Cash prizes totaling more than $4,000 will be awarded at all levels and in all events.