AIAA competition sees 89 teams fly, IIT Kharagpur leads Indian scores

The latest AIAA Design/Build/Fly contest featured 98 university teams submitting design reports, with 89 advancing to the flight‑off stage. Among these, 17 were international entrants, and the event drew over 1,200 students, faculty members and guests. Teams were judged on mission performance, including a timed three‑lap test flight, a charter flight carrying rubber ducks and hockey pucks, and a banner‑towing operation where score depended on banner length, laps completed and wingspan.

IIT Kharagpur’s entry emerged as the top‑scoring Indian team, achieving the 5th place overall in the Asian region and 39th globally. The aircraft completed all three flight missions and the accompanying ground challenge, showcasing the interdisciplinary expertise of the student team.

Professors from the Aerospace Engineering department and the Aerial Robotics Kharagpur lab provided mentorship, while lab facilities supported rapid design iteration and manufacturing. The outcome reflects the institute’s commitment to real‑world engineering education and its growing reputation in international aerospace competitions.