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
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2023 – Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
2024 – DEVCOM Army Research Lab
2025 – Airbus Helicopters
2026 – Leonardo Helicopters
2027 – The Boeing Company
2028 – Bell
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41st Annual Student Design Competition
Multi-Mission Modular UAS for Disaster Relief
Sponsored by DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
- The 41st (2023-2024) SDC RFP is sponsored by DEVCOM Army Research Lab (ARL). Download the 2024 Request for Proposal (RFP) and Invitation Letter to Participate.
- Letter of Intent due February 1, 2024.
- VFS recommends that you read the white paper Student Design Competition on Judging.
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 – read the press release.
- See all of this year's winners – plus past winners and RFPs – at SDC Past Recipients.
- Download the 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP).
39th Annual Student Design Competition
eVTOL Air Taxi for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM)
Winners Announced!
Sponsored by Bell
- Rennsalear Polytechnic Institute takes first place in the Graduate category and University of Maryland take top honors in the Undergraduate category – refer to the full press release for list of all this year's winners.
- See all past winners and their executive summaries at SDC Recipients.
- The 39th (2021-2022) SDC RFP was sponsored by Bell. Download the 2021-2022 Request for Proposal (RFP).
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. VFS Press Release, August 16, 2021
- Executive Summaries of the winning proposals available on the SDC Past Winners page.
- Download the 2020-2021 Request for Proposal (RFP).
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. VFS Press Release, August 13, 2020.
- Executive Summaries of the winning proposals available on the SDC Past Winners page.
- Download the 2019-2020 Request for Proposal (RFP).
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. VFS press release, August 21, 2019
- Executive Summaries of the winning proposals available on the SDC Past Winners page.
- Download the Airbus 2018-2019 Request for Proposal.
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. VFS press release, August 15, 2018.
- Executive Summaries of the winning proposals available on the SDC Past Winners page.
- Download the AHS-US Army 2017-2018 Request for Proposal.
34th Annual Student Design Competition
24 Hour Hovering Machine Conceptual Design
Sponsored by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
- University of Maryland takes top honors in the 34th Annual VFS Student Design Competition, AHS Press Release, August 11, 2017
- Photos of each winning team's design are available on the Facebook page
- Executive Summaries of the winning proposals available on the SDC Past Winners page.
- Download the AHS-Sikorsky Aircraft 2016-2017 Request for Proposal, Released August 11, 2016
33rd Annual Student Design Competition
Air Launched Unmanned Disaster Relief Delivery Vehicle
Sponsored by Bell Helicopter
- University of Maryland and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Take Top Honors in the 33rd Annual AHS International Student Design Competition. VFS Press Release, August 10, 2016
- Executive Summaries of the winning entries are available, plus a list of other past winners
- Download the Bell Helicopter 2015-2016 Request for Proposal, Released July 27, 2015
32nd Annual Student Design Competition
Distributed Logistics in an Urban Setting Using
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Sponsored by The Boeing Company
- University of Maryland and Georgia Tech/METU Take Top Honors in the 32nd Annual AHS International Student Design Competition. VFS Press Release, August 20, 2015
- Executive Summary of the winning entries is available for this and other past winners
- 32nd Annual Student Design Competition Request for Proposals 2014-2015 - Released August 25, 2014
31st Annual Student Design Competition
Sponsored by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters)
- Georgia Institute of Technology and St. Louis University Take Top Honors in the 31st Annual AHS International Student Design Competition. VFS Press Release, August 11, 2014
- Executive Summary of the winning entries is available for this and other past winners
- 31st Annual Student Design Competition RFP 2013-2014 – Released August 2013
30th Annual Student Design Competition
The HealCopter
Sponsored by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters)
- The University of Maryland and Pennsylvania State University Take Top Honors in the 30th Annual AHS International Student Design Competition, VFS Press Release, August 20, 2013
- More information and graphics of the winners, plus executive summaries of the winning entries is available for this and other past winners
- 2013-2014 Request for Proposal for "The HealCopter"
29th Annual Student Design Competition
Rotary Wing Pylon Racer
Sponsored by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- The University of Maryland and Georgia Institute of Technology/University of Liverpool Take Top Honors in the 29th Annual AHS/Industry Student Design Competition, VFS Press Release, August 7, 2012
- Check out the winning design proposals!
- 2012-2013 Request for Proposal (RFP) For "Rotary Winged Pylon Racer"
Updated 2020-09-01