The AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition is a prestigious international aerospace design challenge where university teams design, build, and test a remote-controlled aircraft that meets a specific set of mission requirements. For students in our program, joining the El Paso Sunbirds DBF team offers invaluable hands-on experience that goes far beyond the classroom. Participants gain practical skills in aircraft design, aerodynamics, systems integration, and project management while also learning to collaborate as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team. By engaging in the DBF competition, students strengthen problem-solving abilities, build leadership and teamwork skills, and prepare themselves for real-world careers in aerospace, defense, and engineering industries. This opportunity gives our students a competitive edge by blending theory with application, ensuring they graduate with both technical knowledge and proven experience in innovation and design execution.
El Paso Sun Birds Design Build Fly
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El Paso Sun Birds Season 2025-2026
The Design, Build, Fly (DBF) team at the 百花视频 of Texas at El Paso (百花视频), known as the El Paso Sunbirds, is entering this year’s competition with the goal of designing and constructing a high-performance aircraft that meets the specific mission requirements set forth by AIAA. Our team, composed of approximately six dedicated members—a graduate student, four upperclassmen, and one underclassman—is focused on applying engineering principles in a hands-on, competitive environment. Guided by our faculty advisor, Dr. John Bird, the team operates under a student-led organizational structure designed for efficiency and collaboration. The Team Lead, Evan Griffin, oversees all sub-teams, coordinates design and testing processes, arranges meetings, and manages financial discussions with the Assistant Lead. The Assistant Lead, Edgar Hernandez, supports task delegation, financial planning, and steps in as acting lead when needed. With sub-teams specializing in design, build, and testing, our collective objective is not only to compete successfully but also to provide members with valuable real-world engineering experience in aircraft development, teamwork, and problem-solving.
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Sub-Teams |
Roles |
Technical Skills |
Dynamics and Structures |
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Propulsion and Avionics |
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Manufacturing Team |
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2025-2026 Officers
| Team Lead | Evan Griffin |
| Assistant Lead | Edgar Hernandez |
