AIAA UCF's Aviation Design Proj

        We are the Aviation Design Project with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Central Florida (AIAA-UCF). Over the years, this project has grown from a few members building remote-controlled planes in their garage, to one of the largest student-run projects on campus. It’s easy to see why; this project provides those students with a passion for aviation and engineering with an opportunity to put what they have learned to use. This is what has allowed this once-small project to blossom into an award-winning event involving over one hundred students each year.

The Aviation Design Project is designed to give students a full experience of the process of design and creation. Teams of four to five students are given basic mission requirements, and given free rein to design a vehicle that fits those requirements. Along the way, they are taught the basics of aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structures, and computer-aided design (CAD). At the end of the first semester, the teams are given the opportunity to present their designs to a panel of professional engineers and professors, and receive feedback on their designs. Beginning in the spring, teams are given access to the university’s manufacturing labs, and can use those tools to bring their designs to life. The project culminates in a competition between all the teams at a local RC air field, as they put their designs to the test.

This year, however, we have lost all sources of primary funding for this project. Without proper funding, we will be unable to purchase the materials necessary for the teams to bring their designs to fruition. It is our goal to ensure that no participant misses out on this valuable experience. With your help, we will be able to purchase the supplies needed for teams to get hands-on experience with construction and flight testing. These are skills which carry over to other projects, as well as the rest of the participants’ careers.

Aviation Design has been awarded Best Large Event of the Year by UCF SGA twice in recent years. Participants have gone on to use their skills and experience to get internships and jobs at NASA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and many more. The Aviation Design project has served to inspire and encourage students for years, and to foster creative and innovative thinking in the university’s engineering students. So please, help us to continue this legacy.

From all of the Aviation Design Project officers, and all of our participants, Thank You.



       
Pictures of Previous Aviation Design Competitions
Aviation Design Project Description