The Competition
Miner Aviation competes in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Design Build Fly Competition (DBF). The Executive Board made the decision in 2018 to switch from the SAE Aerospace Competition to AIAA DBF as the old competition was becoming repetitive and nuanced. Now, Miner Aviation is able to try newer and bolder designs like never before. This competition brings different challenges and design aspects every year, testing our team's ability to create original designs and develop our problem solving skills.
The contest fly-off is tentatively scheduled for 13-16 April 2023, for more information on the details of this year's competition, please visit the AIAA 2023 schedule and the 2022-23 Design, Build, Fly Rules.
Overall Mission: Electronic Warfare
The objective for this year is to design, build and test an aircraft to execute electronic warfare missions. Flight missions will include staging of the aircraft, surveillance, and jamming.
The Competition: General Rules
All components of the airplane, payloads and batteries must fit inside an airline checked baggage
compliant shipping box with the following characteristics:
• A maximum length + width + height of 62.00 inches (outside dimensions).
• A maximum weight of 50.00 pounds including the shipping box.
• Each team must provide two sets of one left and one right wing section. All wing sections must fit
inside the shipping box. The left and right wing sections together must make up at least 80% of the
total wing span. The wings shall be permanently marked with “L1”, “L2”, “R1” and “R2”.
• Payloads:
• Mission 1 – no payload.
• Mission 2 – Electronic Package.
• Mission 3 – Jamming Antenna.
• Electronic Packages will be provided by each team and must have the following physical
characteristics:
▪ Size: 3.00 x 3.00 x 6.00 inches minimum dimensions
▪ Weight: The weight may be varied to achieve mission objectives with a max weight declared
at tech inspection. The max weight will be measured and recorded in pounds at tech
inspection. The minimum weight of the Electronics Package must be equal to or greater than
30% of the gross vehicle weight flown during that mission.
• The Electronics Package must be carried internally to the aircraft. No part of the Electronics
Package can be part of or extrude outside of the airplane external surfaces or features.
• Jamming Antennas will be provided by each team. Teams are allowed up to three different
length antennas to optimize their mission score. All Jamming Antennas must be carried in the
shipping box for all missions. The length of the antennas will be verified and documented at tech
inspection. The Jamming Antenna will have the following characteristics:
▪ Material: Unmodified ½ inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe in accordance with ASTM-D1785 or
equivalent (the section of pipe that identifies it as schedule 40 must be visible at tech
inspection).
▪ If a cap is used to close the open end of the pipe, it must be removable for inspection at all
times.
▪ No internal stiffeners may be added to antenna.
• The Jamming Antenna will be securely attached to the wing tip with two fasteners using an
adapter of the team’s design; the Jamming Antenna must be capable of attaching to both wing
tips without modification.
• The antenna must project vertically above the wing. No portion of the antenna may project
below the lower surface of the wing.