Annual VFS Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition

The 2025-2026 DBVF RFP is now online! Please submit your LOI by October 30, 2025.

This electric-powered remote-control vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) competition seeks to encourage interest in unmanned aircraft technology, and small air vehicle design and fabrication. The competition is designed to develop hands-on skills and familiarization with eVTOL and advanced air mobility (AAM) technology at the university student level and prepare the next generation of engineers and leaders to push the limits of this exciting technology into the future.

A total of $5,000 in cash will be awarded.

• 1st Place Overall: $2,200

• 2nd Place Overall: $1,300

• 3rd Place Overall: $700

• Top Score Final Technical Report: $400

• Top Score Flyoff Performance: $400

Team eligibility rules include:

• Team members must be full-time students and can be at undergraduate and graduate levels; at least one Faculty Advisor must be named.
• The student team captain(s) and university faculty advisor(s) must be a current VFS member at the time of Letter of Intent submission — the student rate is $25/year.
  • Find VFS membership information at vtol.org/membership.
• Each team’s pilot must also hold an FAA Part 107 Drone Certification or equivalent certifying authority (non-US based teams).

2025 DBVF Results:

Check out the press release, summary article and photo gallery! The winners of the 2025 DBVF Student Competition were:

• Case Western Reserve University: 1st Place Overall and Top Fly-Off
• University of Akron: 2nd Place Overall
• University of Maryland: 3rd Place Overall
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Top Final Technical Report

Fly-Off Participants:

The 4th Annual Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition was a great success!

Check out the press release and images! Download the 2024 Request for Proposal.

Texas A&M University won top honors, with prizes also going to University of Maryland, Georgia Tech and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Congratulations to all the student teams who successfully competed in the flyoff!

2023 DBVF Results

SURVICE Applied Technology Operation (ATO) — was the DBVF competition flyoff host in 2023. Check out their video summary

2023 Request for Proposal

The winners of the 2023 DBVF Student Competition were:

• Auburn University: Final Technical Report
• University of Maryland: Final Technical Report
• McGill University: Final Technical Report

Honorable Mention:

• University of Michigan

Check out the press release of the final flyoff and awards ceremony.

Congratulations to the following universities, whose Preliminary Design Report (PDR) were the top five scoring teams:

• Cooper Union Aerial Vehicle Team
• Delft University of Technology Lambach Aircraft Team
• University of Cincinnati Verticats Team
• University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle Team
• University of Michigan Vertical Flight Technology Team

2022 DBVF Results

The winners of the 2022 DBVF Student Competition were:

• Ohio State University: Final Technical Report
• University of Maryland: Final Technical Report
• Pennsylvania State University: Final Technical Report

Check out the press release and photo album of the final flyoff and awards ceremony.

Download the 2022 RFP Request for Proposal.

Congratulations to the other competing teams from this year:

• McGill University
• University of Michigan
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology

2021 DBVF Results

The winners of the inaugural (2021) DBVF Student Competition were:

• 1st: University of Michigan (shown):
  Final Technical Report
  
• 2nd: University of Maryland:
  Final Technical Report
• 3rd: Ohio State University:
  Final Technical Report

Honorable mentions:

• McGill University
• Oregon State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Download the 2021 Request for Proposal.

Check out our photo gallery of the winners and read the press release to learn more. Congrats to all the teams for perservance through all the challenges of design and development during the COVID-19 pandemic!

Thank you to our 2025-2026 Supporters!

Premier Sponsor

Premier Sponsor

Host

Support DBVF through our sponsorship opportunities and invest in the future of vertical flight.

2025-2026 Timeline for Deliverables:

09/03/2025: 2025-2026 DBVF RFP

• Letters of Intent: Oct. 30, 2025
• Safety & Risk Mitigation Plan and Wiring Plan: Jan. 7, 2026
• Team Fly-off Participant List: Jan. 19, 2026
• Final Technical Reports: Mar. 2, 2026
• Final Presentations (Virtual): Week of Mar. 16, 2026
• Video Submission Deadline: Mar. 23, 2026
• Flyoff Dates: Apr. 7-10, 2026

Questions: Email fly@hq.vtol.org

FAQs

Questions should be submitted by the 15th of every month

Updated FAQ document will be posted the end of each month

2026 Venue:

SURVICE ATO
3538 Aldino Road
Churchville, MD 21028

Please use this Visitors' Guide as a starting point for finding accommodations and dining recommendations in the Aberdeen area.

Fly-off Host

Thank you to our 2025-2026 DBVF Software Partner:

AVL is excited to partner with DBVF to provide complimentary simulation software for teams that are accepted to compete in DBVF 2025-2026. Visit the website for an overview of AVL’s solutions. Accepted teams will receive additional details upon confirmation.