Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium
PSU Main Campus FVDF

The Flight Vehicle Design and Fabrication (FVDF) Sailplane Lab at Penn State University Park is used primarily by undergraduate students who are enrolled in the Department of Aerospace Engineering Flight Vehicle Design and Fabrication class (AERSP 204H/404H). In this workshop, students fabricate sailplanes, human-powered aircraft, and model airplanes, as well as composite parts for other vehicles being fabricated by students in the major. Along with the tools and materials required for manufacturing composite structures, the lab is equipped with a ventilation system, a high-pressure air systems, and a mobile vacuum pump. In addition, a variety of carbon and aramid fibers are available in different weaves, along with a number of epoxy resin systems.