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 RC aircraft
Cultivate a strong aerospace community by fostering connections between students and professionals in the field
Who We Are
Founded in 2016, WU Design-Build-Fly (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 an aircraft.
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 design task, requiring the team to design and build an entirely new aircraft.
Meet the Crew
Explore each subteam
Aero+Payload
We size the wings and tail, analyze stability and solve the compeition payload design challenge.
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