FROM THE INSTITUTE
In a few days, the skies above Wichita, Kansas, will come alive as student teams from all over the world set out to compete in the annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition fly-off. Their mission: design, build, and test a banner-towing bush plane, conducting charter flights for passengers and cargo to pay for the airplane and start a banner towing business.
Tag: 30 Years
From Classroom to Flight Line: 30 Years of Design/Build/Fly
FROM THE INSTITUTE
In April 2026, AIAA DBF will celebrate its 30th anniversary fly-off in Wichita, Kansas, hosted by Textron Aviation. The objective for this year is to design, build, and test a banner-towing bush plane, conduct charter flights to pay for the airplane, and start a banner-towing business. The mission balances performance with practicality, pushing students to innovate while staying grounded in real-world design constraints. Learn more about the draft rules and submission deadlines.
Full Story (Aerospace America)