Washington University in St. LouisDesign-Build-Fly Team
DESIGN
BUILD
FLY
WUDBF's Threefold Mission:
Teach practical engineering skills beyond the classroom
Provide students the opportunity to design and construct a complete aircraft
Cultivate a strong aerospace community by fostering connections between students and professionals in the field
Who We Are
Founded in 2016, WUDBF brings together students from diverse majors and backgrounds who share an interest in aerospace and engineering design. By working on a multidisciplinary team, members develop strong communication and collaboration skills while gaining hands-on experience in designing, building, and testing aircraft.
WU Design-Build-Fly (WUDBF) is a radio-controlled (RC) aircraft engineering design team that gives students hands-on experience in aerospace design through participation in the annual international American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Design-Build-Fly competition. Each year features a new mission, requiring the team to design and build an entirely new aircraft.
Meet the Crew
Explore each subteam
Aero+Payload
We size the wing and tail, study stability and control, and integrate mission payload systems so the aircraft can complete the mission.
View Subteam →Structures
We design the wing, tail, and fuselage in SolidWorks and use FEA to keep the airframe lightweight, strong, and manufacturable.
View Subteam →Propulsion
We design, select, and test the motor, propeller, and battery system that gives the aircraft the thrust it needs.
View Subteam →Manufacturing
We select materials and build aircraft components from drawings and CAD using the shop processes that bring the airplane to life.
View Subteam →Avionics
We handle controls and data logging by integrating servos, the receiver, wiring, and flight-test instrumentation.
View Subteam →SimDev
We build simulation and analysis tools that help the team optimize designs and study sensitivity before the aircraft is built.
View Subteam →Admin
We support the team through sponsorships, budgeting, design, and community-building that keep the project moving.
View Subteam →
Meet the Presidents
Samantha Feldman
Mechanical Engineering Major
Sarah Donner
Mechanical Engineering Major
Past Aircraft
