The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has officially opened registration for the 2025 Aviation Design Challenge. This annual competition, now in its thirteenth year, promotes careers in aviation in U.S. high schools through aviation-focused and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education curriculum.
“GAMA is excited and proud to cultivate exciting aviation learning experiences through our annual Aviation Design Challenge. This program provides a great introduction for students to learn more about aviation and the diverse career opportunities that the industry has to offer. We continue to upgrade and refine the experience so that we can further engage both students and teachers. Each year, we are awed by the creativity and devotion to detail from each team’s submissions and we look forward to seeing what they come up with for this year’s challenge,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO.
The Aviation Design Challenge is open to the first 150 schools that register to participate. Registered schools will receive free “Fly to Learn” curriculum, which is aligned with national STEM standards, to facilitate the learning of flight and airplane design principles. Teachers can guide their students through the curricula in approximately four to six weeks. The teams will then apply their knowledge to virtually modify an airplane design and complete a mission in a fly-off using X-Plane software.
Completed challenge submissions will be scored by GAMA judges based on the fly-off and other performance parameters. The winning team will receive an all-expenses-paid general aviation experience, which includes a CubCrafters Manufacturing Experience. The second-place team will receive a Redbird Flight STEM Lab and the third-place team will receive one-year ForeFlight Performance Plus subscriptions.
Since its inception in 2013, the Aviation Design Challenge has had over 900 teams participate, representing over 475 high schools from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Aviation Design Challenge has inspired many students to get involved in general aviation and/or pursue a college degree or career path related to general aviation.
To register and to learn more about the challenge, please visit the GAMA Aviation Design Challenge webpage. Registration closes on December 20, 2024, or once all available slots are filled.
