Current competition
2025
Pioneering Hydrogen-Electric VTOL
Sponsor: Airbus
Challenge: to design a pioneering hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
2024
Multi-Mission Modular UAS for Disaster Relief
Sponsor: U.S. Army Research Lab
Challenge: The purpose of the long-endurance mission is to serve as a communications relay to support the disaster relief effort. The vehicle will carry a 20 kg Mission Equipment Package (also called the payload) which will relay cell signals.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — AeroLay
2nd place,
Technical University Delft — PterUAS
3rd place,
University of Maryland — IBIS
Best New Entry:
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University - BSMRAAU — Airborne Phoenix
2023
High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) Aircraft
Sponsor: Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
Challenge: Design a large VTOL aircraft that balances sustained hover operations with high-speed and high-altitude cruise capabilities, with a minimum mission radius of 500 nm (926 km) and cruise speed of 450 kt (833 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,096 m) altitude.
2022
eVTOL Air Taxi for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM)
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter
Challenge: Design an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that accommodates passengers with a broad spectrum of mobility difficulties or other disabilities for urban air mobility (UAM) missions.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Blitzen
2nd place,
Technical University Delft — Aether
3rd place,
Pennsylvania State University — MG-76 Catacopter
Best New Entry:
Multi-Schools from Turkey - Eskisehir Ormangazi University; Samsun University; Necmettin Erbakan University; Erciyes University — DEMIRKANAT
2021
2025 UAV for Medical Equipment Distribution
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: to develop a vertical lift concept that can deliver, at high speed, up to 50 kg (110 lb) payloads to end-user customer sites up to a 50 km (31 mile) radius, and to logistics centers up to a 200 km (124 mile) range.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Alicorn
2nd place,
The University of Melbourne — MU-21 Juggernaut
2020
Leonardo's Aerial Screw: 500 Years Later
Sponsor: Leonardo Helicopters
Challenge: to design a VTOL vehicle based on Leonardo’s Aerial Screw concept, studying and demonstrating the consistency of its physics and potential feasibility.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Elico
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Il Mulinello
3rd place,
Politecnico de Milano — Giocondi
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Best New Entry:
Technical University Delft — SolidityOne
2nd place,
University of Maryland — Samara
3rd place,
Politecnico de Milano — Poli'sCrew
2019
Extreme Altitude Mountain Rescue Vehicle
Sponsor: Airbus
Challenge: design a rotorcraft to perform emergency medical services up to the highest altitudes in the world.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Best Weight Optimization Model:
University of Maryland and Universidad de Carlos III — Tahr
2nd place,
Pennsylvania State University — Rescue Cardinal-57
3rd place,
Best New Entry:
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology — Drop Bear
2018
A Reconfigurable VTOL Aircraft
Sponsor: U.S. Army Research Lab
Challenge: to design a Group 3 size unmanned VTOL aircraft that achieves high-speed forward flight (relative to current VTOL aircraft) and efficient hover through the use of novel reconfigurable propulsive and lifting devices.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Kwatee
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Helluvacopter
3rd place,
Pennsylvania State University — Tocho
Best New Entry:
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani — Druta (The Rapid Eagle)
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland and Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics — MetalTail
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — KnightFlyer
Best FLIGHTLAB Bonus Model:
University of Maryland and Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics — MetalTail
2017
24 Hour Hovering Machine Conceptual Design
Sponsor: Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
Challenge: to design a heavier-than-air flying machine that could hover for 24 hours over three stations 1 km apart, carrying a human-sized payload of (80 kg) 176.4 lb. These principal design drivers were based on the ongoing AHS International Igor I. Sikorsky 24 Hour Hover Challenge flying competition, also sponsored by Sikorsky Aircraft.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Chezoia
2nd place,
PFH Private University of Applied Sciences — Ephemeron
3rd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — 24 Hour Buzz
Best New Entry:
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico — Godwit Helicopter
2016
Air Launched Unmanned Disaster Relief Delivery Vehicle
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter
Challenge: The competition, Air Launched Unmanned Disaster Relief Delivery Vehicle, challenged students to design an unmanned rotorcraft, capable of deployment from the ramp of an in-flight C-130J cargo airplane. The rotorcraft needed to arrest its descent and transition into its own flight mode to deliver supplies to remote areas from a hover and subsequently return to a recovery base.
2015
Distributed Logistics in an Urban Setting Using Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: The competition for "Distributed Logistics in an Urban Setting Using Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" provided challenging tasks for undergraduate student teams to complete a vehicle design, while graduate student teams completed a systems design. In addition, there was an optional task for undergraduate and graduate teams for planning and conducting a hardware validation activity.
2014
X-VTOL
Sponsor: AgustaWestland
Challenge: The 2014 Student Design Competition challenged students to design an experimental Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft — an X-VTOL — which is intended to establish key performance attributes to enable transformational mission capabilities on an objective aircraft. These include efficient sustained hover, long-range cruise, high useful loads and sustained flight at high speeds.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — XV-58 Manta
2nd place,
Best New Entry:
Politecnico de Milano — NIBBIO
3rd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — The Emperor UAV
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Best New Entry:
St. Louis University — Heli-Fast
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — The Hammerhead
3rd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Project Raven
2013
The HealCopter
Sponsor: Eurocopter
Challenge: To design a helicopter aimed at rescuing victims of a natural disaster with the capability to reach the scene rapidly with a large payload that is mission-equipped to operate safely.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University — GRIFFIN
2nd place,
Texas A&M University — HealCopter
2012
Rotary Winged Pylon Racer
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Challenge: To design a purpose built helicopter to race on a prescribed pylon course. Graduate students were required to submit a simulation package video.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Dart T690/E550
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
/ University of Liverpool — Advanced Racing Concept (ARC)
2011
Multi‐Mission Aircraft
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: To design a multi-mission vertical lift system that optimally blends the competing requirements of three very different missions — Search and Rescue, Insertion and Resupply. The aircraft must be reconfigurable.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Golden Retriever
2nd place,
Pennsylvania State University — Phoenix
Best New Entry:
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur — RC2
2010
LIFT! More LIFT!
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: To design a technology demonstrator multi-lift system such that two rotorcraft could be cooperatively operated and lift 75% more payload than either aircraft. Graduate students were also challenged to design and conduct a flight test program for their system.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University — SPARCL
2nd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — GunSmash and the Atlas
Best New Entry:
M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology — Silver
2009
Non-conventional Rotor Drive
Sponsor: AgustaWestland
Challenge: To design a new, non-conventional rotor/drive system for a helicopter, starting from a current, in-service design with MTOW between 3500 and 5500 kgm, and including all necessary subsystems that will endow the new design with improved performance in terms of speed, range, payload, endurance and noise signature.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
/ University of Liverpool — Peregrine
2nd place,
University of Maryland — Griffin Veritas
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — GyroBlitz
2nd place,
Pennsylvania State University — Pegasus
Best New Entry:
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics — Non-Conventional Rotor Drive
2008
Advanced VTOL Concept “SMART – COPTER” Minimizing Energy Consumption
Sponsor: Eurocopter
Challenge: To design an advanced VTOL "SMART-COPTER" concept capable of operating from an unprepared area and which minimizes energy consumption throughout the operational envelope.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Konkuk University
/ University of Maryland — Volterra — The Era of Green
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Athena
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University — SMART-COPTER: Razor Rescue
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Ecocopter
Best New Entry:
Middle East Technical University — Metu-Copter
2007
Advanced Deployable Compact Rotorcraft in support of Special Operation Forces
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Challenge: To design an advanced manned VTOL Approach and Recovery Vehicle (ARV) that is capable of operating from a submersible vehicle in support of Special Operations Forces, and an advanced Unmanned Escort Vehicle (UEV) that is capable of supporting the operations of the ARV.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Cyphir, Dragonfly and Barracuda
2nd place,
University of Maryland — Triton
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Best New Entry:
Pennsylvania State University
/ Technion — Israel Institute of Technology — Waterspout
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2006
2-Place Turbine Training Helicopter
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: To design a two-seat, single-engine turbine training helicopter with operating characteristics representative of the world's turbine helicopter fleet, while being cost-competitive with current piston-engined training helicopters, along with the conceptual design of a low-cost turbine engine.
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University
/ Technion — Israel Institute of Technology — Grass-Chopper
2nd place,
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
2005
Heavy Lift VTOL Aircraft
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: To develop the conceptual design of a modern military Heavy Lift VTOL aircraft. The aircraft had to be designed to operate from existing naval ships and be able to transport a 20-ton FCS combat-ready vehicle.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Atlas
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology — Heavy Lift Tandem
Best New Entry (Individual):
University of Alabama Huntsville
2004
Design for Certification- Mountain Rescue Helicopter
Sponsor: AgustaWestland
Challenge: To develop a helicopter specifically designed for high altitude rescue operations. The aircraft had to be certified for single pilot, day/night operations with cruise speeds of at least 145 knots.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Condor
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
3rd place,
Best New Entry:
US Air Force Institute of Technology
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — Infinity
2003
VTOL Urban Disaster Response Vehicle
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation / NASA
Challenge: To design a VTOL urban disaster response vehicle for high rise firefighter deployment, rooftop occupant extraction, disaster command and control and other emergency response missions.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — UM-911 Aeneas
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University — Griffin Heavy-Lift Rescue Vehicle
2nd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Extricator
3rd place,
Iowa State University
2002
Light Helicopter Upgrade Program
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: To upgrade and remanufacture a 4-6 place turbine helicopter for commercial applications, that can operate at 140 Kt cruise speed and have a range of 400 nm.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — 406-UM-TerpRanger
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2001
Advanced Rotor Control Concepts
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: To develop a VTOL platform with an innovative method of controlling the cyclic pitch of the rotor blades. Methods that do not depend upon the use of traditional swashplate mechanisms were sought.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Raven
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2000
A Proof-of-Concept Demonstration for Rotary Wing Flight in the Martian
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation / NASA
Challenge: To develop an autonomous rotorcraft for exploration of Mars. The mission was to be a proof-of-concept demonstration for rotary wing flight in the Martian atmosphere.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Vehicle Design:
University of Maryland — MARV
2nd place,
Vehicle Design:
Georgia Institute of Technology
1st place,
Propulsion System and Flight Computer Design:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Vehicle Design:
Georgia Institute of Technology
1999
High-Speed VSTOL Personal Transport
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: To develop a VTOL four-to-six place aircraft minimizing the the number of man hours required to fabricate the components.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — CalVert
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2nd place,
Princeton University
Best New Entry:
Princeton University
1998
The Need for a Civil Short-Haul VTOL Aircraft
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: To develop a modern 12-seat civil VTOL transport rotorcraft with the capability to grow to 19 seats with minimum changes.
Graduate winners
1st place,
University of Maryland — Chesapeake
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
/ Pennsylvania State University
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
/ Pennsylvania State University
1997
Sponsor: The Boeing Company
Challenge: To develop the conceptual design of a VTOL aircraft which could serve as an armed escort for the V-22 high-speed rotorcraft.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
U.S. Military Academy
2nd place,
Pennsylvania State University
1996
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Challenge: A cost-effective, dedicated fire fighting rotorcraft that could best perform a 200 acre, 10 hour forest fighting job for the least overall cost.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University
2nd place,
U.S. Military Academy
3rd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1995
VTOL Search and Rescue/Payload Delivery Aircraft
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: A UAV capable of extracting two people, delivering a payload capsule weighing up to 400 lbs., and equipped with video surveillance.
Graduate winners
1st place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
U.S. Military Academy
1994
VTOL System for Dual-Use
Sponsor: Boeing Helicopters
Challenge: VTOL system with dual-use applications as a civil transport and as a troop assault vehicle.
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
U.S. Military Academy
2nd place,
U.S. Military Academy
1993
Sponsor: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems
Challenge: Scout Reconnaissance
Graduate winners
1st place,
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
2nd place,
Arizona State University
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
U.S. Military Academy
2nd place,
U.S. Military Academy
1992
VTOL Package Express Aircraft
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Challenge: VTOL Package Express Aircraft
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Undergraduate winners
1st place,
Pennsylvania State University
2nd place,
Pennsylvania State University
1991
High Speed VTOL
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: High Speed VTOL
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
1990
Remotely Piloted Surveillance Vehicle
Sponsor: Boeing Helicopters
Challenge: Remotely Piloted Surveillance Vehicle
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
1989
Light Utility Helicopter
Sponsor: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems
Challenge: Light Utility Helicopter
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
1988
Heavy Lift Helicopter
Sponsor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Challenge: Heavy Lift Helicopter
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
3rd place,
University of Maryland
1987
Low Cost Tilt Rotor for Commuter Operations
Sponsor: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Challenge: Low Cost Tilt Rotor for Commuter Operations
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
3rd place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1986
One Man Rotary-Wing Racer
Sponsor: Boeing Helicopters
Challenge: One Man Rotary-Wing Racer
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
1985
Sport Helicopter for Home Construction
Sponsor: Boeing Helicopters
Challenge: Sport Helicopter for Home Construction
Graduate winners
1st place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology
3rd place,
Pennsylvania State University
1984
Combat, Search and Rescue
Sponsor: Boeing Helicopters
Challenge: Combat, Search and Rescue
Overall winners
1st place,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2nd place,
Georgia Institute of Technology