Edvard Rusjan Team triumphs at Design/Build/Fly 2026

The competition took place in Wichita, Kansas from 16 to 19 April under the auspices of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and is regarded as one of the most prestigious and technically demanding student competitions in the field of aviation. Each year, teams develop a completely new aircraft, from initial concept to final execution, with a key emphasis on innovation, technical sophistication and practical reliability.

The ‘Brvinc’ aircraft, a radio-controlled unmanned aircraft, was developed especially for this year’s challenge, which was to produce a “banner-towing bush plane”. The project demanded a precise combination of multi-functionality, robustness and flexibility, as well as carefully thought-out logistical elements, as the plane had to be sufficiently compact to cross oceans.

Development, from initial concept and CAD modelling to production, testing and optimisation, took place entirely within the team. The mechanical systems and the design of the banner, which had to ensure stability of operation even in the most difficult weather conditions, were a particular challenge.

With an excellent technical report, the team secured itself a good baseline and second place on the start list. The competition opened with successful execution of the static task; and by the end of the competition, they had improved their time to a highly impressive 6.6 seconds. The flying missions took place in challenging conditions, with strong winds, storms and even tornados interrupting the competition at several points. Despite this, the team performed solidly in all tasks: from a test flight without freight to an exacting mission carrying freight and passengers, and a final task (the most spectacular) that involved towing a large banner. Their consistency and stable flights helped them take the lead – a lead that, in a tense finale, the other teams were unable to overhaul.

“I’m happy that we brought the project to a successful conclusion,” said Jakob Erhartič, head of the DBF team. “I’m extremely grateful to all members of the team who have given their time and effort over the last few months to design and produce this aircraft. We worked in very tight collaboration during the competition, which was noticed by others. Our victory at DBF repays every last effort invested and confirms that we are on the right path,” he added.

The team’s mentor, Senior Lecturer Dr Igor Petrovič, said: “The highly motivated team and the successful transfer of knowledge and experience from previous years was the key difference. The good organisation of work and the extremely high number of hours invested voluntarily by the students also played an important role.”

Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Dr Jernej Klemenc stressed that such moments always brought special satisfaction to the faculty as they confirmed the validity of its key area of focus, which was to equip students with more than just theoretical knowledge. “Seeing how students are able to develop the knowledge that they have acquired during their studies, and with considerable self-initiative, work and responsibility, into something so concrete and successful is confirmation that our way of working makes sense. The team’s success in the USA is proof that the link between study, mentoring and practice is truly a live one – and one that yields results.”

The team’s victory at Design/Build/Fly 2026 is not merely an achievement forged in a specific competition, but clear confirmation that Slovenian students can compete with the best universities in the world in terms of knowledge, persistence and support – and beat them. At the same time, the project is a valuable learning environment in which students can develop technical skills, teamwork and the ability to resolve complex challenges in a real-world setting.