AIAA DBF Competition

In the fall of 2018, our UTD Design Build Fly team spent a year creating a radio-controlled aircraft named Enalp for the AIAA Design Build Fly competition. We proudly secured the 45th position out of 104 participants in Tucson, Arizona.

Our goal was to make a versatile aircraft for carrier operations. It needed to fit in a small space, change from storage to flight mode, and take off from a ramp. Notable features included a tail hook, rotating radome, and attack stores on the wings. The aircraft had to fit in a space 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall, like planes on carriers. Transitioning from storage to flight showed our design's practical adaptability. We also managed successful takeoffs from a ramp with a 5-degree incline, using a 10 feet by 4 feet runway. Adding more challenge, we included a tail hook at the plane's end, crucial for launch. This experience highlighted our teamwork and innovation in building a functional and efficient aircraft..