JHU Design Build Fly Alumni Newsletter

We are reaching out from the Johns Hopkins University Design, Build, Fly (DBF) club to reconnect and share our recent achievements with our alumni. As the current team rebuilding this club to its former glory, we are excited to update you on where the club stands today. 

The club experienced a period of inactivity during and after the pandemic, effectively going into hibernation in 2022-23. However, a few passionate members took the initiative to revive the club. Despite limited experience and funding, we were determined to make our mark in the competition.

Our journey to the 2024 competition was both challenging and inspiring. With limited resources, we constructed a plane which happened to be one of the smallest and lightest in the competition. While our unconventional approach earned us the playful nickname "the cardboard plane," we proved our mettle by successfully completing Mission 1 and finishing in the top 50% - competing against more established and well-funded teams.

This Year

Our experience at the competition was profoundly transformative. Rather than feeling discouraged, we emerged more motivated and determined than ever. Through dedicated summer efforts, we achieved several significant milestones. We secured our first commercial sponsor, Cisco, with a $1,000 contribution, doubled our funding from the Department of Mechanical Engineering to $3000, and obtained an additional $1,000 from the Computer Science department. We've also focused on recruitment, successfully attracting more freshmen who have already made substantial contributions to the club. 

This year's competition presents an exciting challenge. Our aircraft must carry fuel tanks (weighted beverage bottles) and include an autonomous glider capable of precise target landing. Our plane measures 6 feet across its wingspan, weighs 6.5 lbs when empty, and is designed to carry up to 10 lbs of payload while flying at speeds over 90 feet per second. We've just completed the detailed design of our first prototype and begun manufacturing. Our proposal has already ranked 27th out of 159 teams, securing our place in the fly-off competition in Arizona next April.

Support DBF

The legacy of our club continues through the support of our alumni. To help grow our network, we kindly ask that you share this newsletter with fellow alumni from your time at JHU, as we do not have a comprehensive alumni list.

Please join our alumni network by signing up using the button below (or using this URL https://forms.gle/kFCCH96dRrXUM4wDA)

If you’re interested in directly supporting DBF, whether through mentorship, funding, or other means, feel free to contact us at dbf@jhu.edu.

Your support—whether big or small—makes a world of difference to us. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and we look forward to reconnecting with you soon.