Events Category: Aeronautics

30th Annual Design/Build/Fly Competition

The AIAA through the Applied Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design, Design Engineering and Flight Test Technical Committees and the AIAA Foundation invites all university students to participate in the Cessna/Raytheon Missile Systems Student Design Build Fly competition. The contest will provide a real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytic studies;

Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. The goal is a balanced design possessing good demonstrated flight handling qualities and practical and affordable manufacturing requirements while providing a high vehicle performance.

To encourage innovation and maintain a fresh design challenge for each new years participants, the design requirements and performance objective will be updated for each new contest year. The changes will provide new design requirements and opportunities, while allowing for application of technology developed by the teams from prior years.

ASCEND 2026

Join us 19–21 May 2026 to access inspiring sessions and premium content, develop valuable business leads, and make meaningful connections. More details on 2026 ASCEND will be available soon.

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2026 International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC)

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 December 2025

The International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC) focuses on the latest developments in vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft research, concepts and programs.

IPLC is a joint technical meeting, cosponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), SAE International and VFS. SAE is the host organization this year and will incorporate IPLC into its AeroTech aerospace technology conference, 2–4 June 2026 at West Palm Beach, Florida.

Call for Papers

Technical papers are solicited for advancements in the arts, sciences, and technologies that apply to the design and operation of V/STOL and eV/STOL aircraft systems, including lift systems, attitude control systems, airframe configurations, subsystems, handling qualities and safety, navigation and air traffic control, noise and pollution suppression, ground handling, and ground time minimization.

Topics for the 2026 IPLC include:

  • Advanced Flight Controls, Cockpit Automation, and Autonomy of Crewed and Uncrewed Systems
  • Breaking Developments in V/STOL-Enabling Sciences and Technologies
  • Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft using Battery, Hybrid- or Hydrogen-Electric Energy Systems and/or Electric Motors for Powered Lift and Control
  • Convertiplane (Tiltrotor, Tiltwing, and Stopped Rotor) Concepts and Design
  • Fan-Lift and Jet-Lift Systems Design and Fixed-Wing Aircraft Integration
  • Heavy through Ultra-Heavy Lift V/STOL Transport Aircraft Design (>20,000 kg payload capability)
  • Rotorcraft Lift-Compounding and Thrust-Compounding Systems Design and Vehicle Integration
  • Single- and Multi-Rotor Drone Systems Design and Vehicle Integration
  • Current and Historical V/STOL Aircraft Technology Overviews and Project/Program Updates
  • Other Topics in V/STOL Aircraft Systems

Learn More and Submit Abstract

AIAA HyTASP Spring 2025 Webinar (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On Demand Recording Available

Featuring Special Guest Lecturer, Sarah Popkin, program manager in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office

AIAA Members: make sure you are signed in to the site with your member credentials to be able to access the on demand replay.

This event is offered exclusively to AIAA members. Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Access Replay

Join us for “AIAA Spring Hypersonics Webinar,” presented by Sarah Popkin, and hosted by the AIAA HyTASP Technical Committee. This webinar sets the stage for understanding DARPA’s role and function in the Department of Defense. To create or prevent strategic surprise, DARPA empowers program managers to develop new, high-risk ideas to advance U.S. technical capability. In space, a new domain called very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is being researched at DARPA across three programs. Those programs and the additional technical and fundamental physics challenges to consider when operating in VLEO will be highlighted

AIAA SciTech Forum 2026

The AIAA SciTech Forum program covers the science, technologies, and policies that are shaping the future of aerospace. The forum is the largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology in the world.

AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization TC Webinar: “A Journey Towards MDAO” (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On Demand Recording Available

Watch Replay

This on-demand webinar is free of charge and is open to the public.

Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Join us for “A Journey Toward MDAO,” presented by Kumar Bhatia, The Boeing Company (retired). Hosted by the AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Technical Committee, Bhatia will re-present his award lecture and discuss advancing the uses of MDAO (multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization). Bhatia received the 2022 AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award for pioneering use of MDO in transport aircraft and developing a rapid approach for aircraft MDO employing appropriate fidelity analyses.