Student Design Competition
The Vertical Flight Society’s annual Student Design Competition invites university students from around the world to tackle a real-world engineering challenge: designing an innovative vertical lift aircraft that meets specific performance and mission requirements.
This prestigious competition offers students a unique opportunity to apply their engineering skills in a practical setting, foster collaboration, and deepen their understanding of vertical flight technology. It also serves as a powerful platform to inspire the next generation of aerospace innovators.
Awards and Recognition Winning teams receive cash awards and gain international recognition. First-place teams are invited to present their designs at the Vertical Flight Society’s Annual Forum & Technology Display—the premier professional and technical event for the vertical flight industry, providing valuable exposure to industry leaders and cutting-edge advancements.
Industry Partnership and Support: The competition is proudly sponsored and financially supported on a rotating basis by these leading organizations in the vertical flight community:
Airbus
(2031 Sponsor)
Leonardo Helicopters
(2026 Sponsor)
Bell
(2027 Sponsor)
The Boeing Company
(2028 Sponsor)
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
(2029 Sponsor)
U.S. Army Research Laboratory
(2030 Sponsor)
43rd Annual Student Design Competition:
Hybrid Electric Tiltrotor
Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopters
- Thank you to the 17 university teams who submitted final reports for the 43rd SDC, sponsored by Leonardo Helicopters. The 2026 SDC proposals are still under reivew. The final results will now be announced in September. All paricipating teams will be notiifed as soon as results are confirmed.
- The 44th Request for Propsal (RFP), sponsored by Bell, will be released the week of August 24, 2026.
- The 2026-2027 RFP is entitled "VTOL Aircraft Supporting South American Offshore Oil and Gas Production".
- VFS recommends that you read the white paper Student Design Competition on Judging and Participation Invitation Letter.
42nd Annual Student Design Competition
Pioneering Hydrogen-Electric VTOL
Sponsored by AIRBUS
- The University of Maryland earned top honors, winning first place in both graduate and undergraduate categories. For a list of all this year's winners download the Press Release.
- Thank you to the 20 university teams that submitted final proposals.
- 42nd (2024-2025) SDC RFP sponsored by Airbus entitled "Pioneering Hydrogen Electric VTOL": 2025 SDC RFP and Airbus RFI Responses.
-
'Huma' and 'AeroLay'
SDC 2023-24 -
'Arion' and 'The Harpy'
SDC 2022-23 -
'Oliwhoper' and 'Blitzen'
SDC 2021-22 -
'Alicorn' and 'Garra'
SDC 2020-21 -
2010 to 2020 Winners
SDC 2010-2020
