The NDSGC funded the senior design group of the Mechanical Engineering Department along with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Chapter at North Dakota State University to participate in the AIAA Design Build Fly Competition.
The AIAA group at NDSU started in 2010 and they have had success at the competition in the past, continually improving with each year.
The team designed, built, and tested an RC Aircraft at the competition, after a year-long effort of initial design ideas based on the competition design criterion, final design selection based upon the structural, aerodynamics, propulsion, and electronics design and analysis, and manufacturing and building of the plane. The research and design encouraged by the Design, Build, Fly Competition are in line with NASAs mission by furthering innovation in the field of aeronautics. Design, Build, Fly provides the background necessary for future aerospace engineers and tests new ideas brought forth by college students for the future design of aircraft to be used by commercial and military companies.