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JHU DBF: Exciting Milestone - Our Plane Has Flown!

Koji Shukawa - Monday, March 31, 2025
 Events 
Dear [FIRST_NAME],

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news—our 2025 competition plane has officially taken flight! This year marks a significant leap for our team in both design and engineering.

Just last year, we set out to revive the club from a period of inactivity, rebuilding from the ground up with limited resources and experience. Now, our aircraft weighs 8 lbs with a 6-foot wingspan—over three times heavier than last year’s foam board plane. We incorporated carbon fiber and fiberglass control surfaces, along with a wooden wing. None of us had ever designed something of this scale before, and figuring it all out was a huge challenge. But after countless hours of design, manufacturing, and testing, we finally saw it take to the skies!

Beyond our aircraft, we’ve also made significant advancements in our manufacturing capabilities. This year, we built a CNC hot wire cutter from scratch, including developing custom software to generate G-code for precisely cutting XPS foam—unlocking endless possibilities. This tool will enable us to fabricate high-performance, complex carbon fiber parts in future builds, taking our designs to an entirely new level. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come—and a glimpse of how much further we’re going.

Stay Connected

We’re working to build a strong DBF alumni network, and we’d love for you to be part of it! If you haven’t already, please sign up using the link below:

Join the DBF Alumni Network (https://forms.gle/kFCCH96dRrXUM4wDA)

We also ask that you help spread the word—if you’re still in touch with any former DBF members, please forward this email and encourage them to sign up as well!

Thank you for your continued support! If you’re interested in reconnecting with the club, mentoring, or helping us grow, we’d love to hear from you.

Best,

JHU Design Build Fly Team

dbf@jhu.edu

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