The Vertical Flight Society's annual Student Design Competition challenges students to design a vertical lift aircraft that meets specified requirements, provides a practical exercise for engineering students at colleges and universities around the world and promotes student interest in vertical flight technology. Each of the winning teams is awarded a cash stipend, while each of the first-place winning teams are invited to the Vertical Flight Society's Annual Forum and Technology Display to present the details of their designs. Members of the teams receive complimentary registration to the Forum, the vertical flight industry’s principal professional technical event, which promotes vertical flight technology advancement.
The Student Design Competition sponsorship rotates between Airbus, The Boeing Company, Bell, Leonardo Helicopters, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.; and US Army Research Lab. Through this partnership, VFS is able to reach the best and brightest students in the world and encourage them to pursue education and careers in vertical flight. VFS is grateful for the continual support that industry provides for its annual Student Design Competition, and proud of all students who elect to participate. Information is available on past winners.
Rotating Sponsors
2023 – Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co. 2024 – DEVCOM Army Research Lab 2025 – Airbus 2026 – Leonardo Helicopters 2027 – The Boeing Company 2028 – Bell |
Vertical Flight Society's Student Design Competitions
42nd Annual Student Design Competition
Pioneering Hydrogen-Electric VTOL
Sponsored by AIRBUS
The 42nd (2024-2025) SDC RFP sponsored by Airbus entitled "Pioneering Hydrogen Electric VTOL" is now available for download.
Letters of Intent are due February 1, 2025.
VFS recommends that you read the white paper Student Design Competition on Judging and Participation Invitation Letter.
See past winners and RFPs at SDC Past Recipients.
41st Annual Student Design Competition
Multi-Mission Modular UAS for Disaster Relief
Sponsored by DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
The University of Maryland graduate team and Georgia Institute of Technology undergraduate team take top honors in the 41st Student Design Competition. Download the press release for details.
Download all the winning Executive Proposals and RFP at SDC Past Recipients.
40th Annual Student Design Competition
High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) Aircraft
Sponsored by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
The University of Maryland and Georgia Institute of Technology/US Military Academy team take top honors in the 40th (2022-2023) Student Design Competition.
See the RFP and winning Executive Summaries at SDC Past Recipients.
39th Annual Student Design Competition
eVTOL Air Taxi for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM)
Winners Announced!
Sponsored by Bell
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute takes first place in the Graduate category and University of Maryland take top honors in the Undergraduate category.
See the RFP and winning Exectutive Summaries at SDC Past Recipients.
38th Annual Student Design Competition
2025 Unmanned Vertical Lift for Medical Equipment Distribution
Sponsored by The Boeing Company
The University of Maryland takes top honors in both graduate and undergraduate categories. The University of Kansas is recognized as best new undergraduate entrant.
The RFP and winning Executive Summaries available at SDC Past Recipients.
37th Annual Student Design Competition
Leonardo's Aerial Screw: 500 Years Later
Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopters
The University of Maryland team takes top honors in the graduate category. Delft University of Technology takes first place and new entrant in the undergraduate category.
See the RFP and winning Executive Summaries at SDC Past Recipients.
36th Annual Student Design Competition
Extreme Altitude Mountain Rescue Vehicle
Sponsored by Airbus
University of Maryland takes first place in the graduate category. The joint University of Maryland/Universidad de Carlos III (Spain) collaborative team also takes top honors in the undergraduate category.
See the RFP and winning Executive Summaries at SDC Past Receipients.
35th Annual Student Design Competition
A Reconfigurable VTOL Aircraft
Sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Lab
The joint University of Maryland/Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics collaborative team takes first place in the graduate category. The University of Maryland also takes top honors in the undergraduate category.
See the RFP and winning Executive Summaries at SDC Past Recipients.
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