The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) this week named teams from Peachtree City, Georgia’s McIntosh High School, and Washington D.C.’s Gonzaga College High School as winners of its Aviation Design Challenge. 

More than 80 high school teams from 38 states participated in this year’s challenge. GAMA’s Aviation Design Challenge consisted of two sections: the first was a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) “Fly to Learn” curriculum, which allowed students to learn about aircraft design and flight principles, and the second section required teams to use their knowledge from the first to virtually modify a CubCrafters NX Cub using X-Plane flight simulation software to make a more efficient flight between Packwood, Washington, and Seattle, Washington. 

First-place team members from McIntosh High School—Aaron Maeder, Jada Reeves, Marc van Zyl, Matthew Villiger, and Emily White—added winglets, retractable landing gear, and fairings to their airplane and modified both its chord ratio and wing length. The team's prize consisted of a CubCrafters Manufacturing Experience and demonstration flight opportunities, among other benefits.

Meanwhile, the second-place team—including Enzo Bunag, Hunter Cullina, Jack Deye, Reed Gray, Colin Heil, and Paul Molinaro—won a Redbird Flight Simulations STEM Lab. 

“We look forward to continuing to improve and grow the program so that [it] can inspire younger generations to consider fulfilling careers in general aviation,” GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce said.