Design/Build/Fly Aircraft Design Competition

Project goal: To design a radio-controlled aircraft to AIAA requirements that helps simulate a cargo and passenger aircraft with fully integrated line-replaceable units. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design/Build/Fly is an annual competition that provides students with real-world experience by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytic studies.The objective of the 2018 competition reflects a demand in the aeronautical industry for line-replaceable units, which are components of an assembly that, upon failure, can easily be replaced to bring the assembly back to full functionality. Normally, any failed component means grounding the aircraft and shipping it to a repair facility for extensive and expensive repair. Line-replaceable units can be easily replaced on the line (airport) and the aircraft recommissioned, saving money, frustration and time. The team competed in Wichita, Kansas in April 2018 against national and international schools in a competition that featured ground and air missions to demonstrate the capabilities of the aircraft.