The Design, Build, and Fly competition is an annual competition sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Cessna Aircraft Company and the Office of Naval Research (ONR.)

This project provides students, who are interested in aeronautical design and construction, an opportunity to produce, in a team environment, a product to meet a specific set of requirements as outlined by competition rules, much as a commercial venture would produce a proposal based on the customer's needs. Undergraduates, from Freshman to Senior, can participate. Students learn how to integrate the many aspects of design and to balance the advantages and disadvantages of various design possibilities.

For many, this is the first opportunity to see the design process. Sub-teams work on specific areas of aircraft design, such as aerodynamics, structures or controls. The sub teams then integrate their designs into the complete vehicle. The students must construct the entire aircraft and submit a written report documenting decisions made and methods used in the design. Knowledge gained through this process is applicable to any engineering problem encountered in industry.

The team travels annually to Cessna Field in Wichita, Kansas or to the Pax River Navel Air Station in Maryland.