Design, Build, Fly is an annual international student competition hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest aerospace professional society dedicated to advancing the science and technology of aeronautics and astronautics. AIAA challenges students each year to innovate by a changing yearly objective in the DBF competition. Through each year’s project, students are exposed to complex problem solving, budgeting, testing, manufacturing technologies, aircraft propulsion, aerodynamics, and much more. Aztec Aerospace Design is a student-run organization dedicated to competing in the AIAA Design, Build, Fly competition. In the most recent competition, our team was placed as the best team in California. Each year, an array of students come together to design and fabricate an unmanned aircraft, where different engineering skills and techniques are learned and put to action throughout the project. Design Build Fly provides students with engineering skills that build upon their coursework in the classroom. This allows students to learn about teamwork, practical design, organizational skills, technical writing, and leadership. Members of the Aztec Aero learn to work in a team environment while continually interacting with SDSU faculty and industry partners. This gives members the opportunity to advance themselves and become leaders in their field.
