Fresh off an extraordinary season of design, manufacturing, and flying in Fort Worth, Texas, the Union College SAE Aero Design Team has brought home a top 10 finish at SAE Aero Design West 2026 and was ranked 4th place out of all the American teams.

Union College has competed in the SAE Aero Design Series since 2004, sending generations of students from every major into one of collegiate engineering’s most demanding arenas. Each year, the team designs, builds, tests, and flies a custom radio-controlled aircraft from scratch, solving a fresh set of challenges set by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Competitions like SAE Aero Design are vital to the identity of Union Engineering, where students do not just study the discipline; they practice it under pressure, alongside teammates from every major.

Throughout the year, including in Texas, team members built practical engineering skills in a short period of time by talking with other teams and tackling problems that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. Beyond the technical gains, the competition forges collaboration and friendships with teams from around the world while strengthening bonds within the Union community itself.

Aero is actively recruiting students. All majors are welcome, and no prior expertise is required. Some students might be more interested in taking on leadership roles in marketing, communications, social media, and fundraising, giving members ownership of real outreach and real brand strategy: experience that translates directly to internships and full-time roles after graduation. 

Kickoff begins Tuesday, April 28, 6:00 pm, where all the rules of the competition are released and students can get to work!!!!