Airbus Sponsoring Vertical Flight Society’s 42nd Annual Contest

The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) has announced the opening of its 42nd Annual Student Design Competition (SDC).

The annual SDC is a challenge for student teams to design a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft meeting specific requirements and restraints. It provides college and university engineering students with a hands-on experience to promote interest in VTOL technologies and in developing practical engineering solutions.

The Society is aligned with many other aviation organizations and businesses in supporting research to reduce the global carbon footprint of the aviation industry. Much promising work has been done in the area of using hydrogen as a fuel source for providing energy, and that is the theme of this year’s competition: “Pioneering Hydrogen-Electric VTOL.”

The challenge is to design an electric aircraft that utilizes gaseous hydrogen fuel cells for propulsion, and to meet certain restraints. It will provide a challenging opportunity for teams to understand and surmount the specific requirements of a passenger-carrying hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft.

Airbus and the Vertical Flight Society wish to encourage universities from around the world to organize teams of students to participate in this exciting challenge that will require a range of knowledge and skills.

Winning teams are awarded cash prizes and are invited to the VSF’s Annual Forum and Technology Display. Letters of intent are due by February 1, 2025.

FMI:  vtol.org/