On October 9, the 2026 China Universities Aircraft Design Competition, organised by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, officially kicked off at the Zigong Aviation Industrial Park in Sichuan.

At the competition venue

It is understood that the China Universities Aircraft Design Competition, themed "soaring Ambition, Innovative Minds; Competing for Supremacy in the Skies and Space", is guided by the principle of 'education through competition'. It is a prominent aerospace brand event in China that integrates aircraft design, construction and flight validation, and serves as a vital platform for scientific and technological innovation that bridges the gap between theoretical aerospace education and engineering practice.

This year's competition comprises three main categories—fixed-wing, rotary-wing and rockets—with a total of 12 competition events, covering tasks such as logistics drones, solar-powered aircraft, short take-off and landing, and rocket launch and recovery. Through a multi-dimensional assessment process involving design reports, flight challenges and engineering validation, the competition comprehensively evaluates the participants' overall capabilities in areas such as design, engineering fabrication and on-site flight operations, thereby thoroughly testing the effectiveness of universities' efforts in cultivating talent for aerospace innovation and research.

At the competition venue

On the competition stage, the participating teams made full use of their professional expertise, boldly innovating and meticulously refining their entries, thereby demonstrating the solid professional foundations and strong potential for scientific and technological innovation possessed by today's university students.

Spectators watching the air show

It is reported that this competition has been hosted at the Zigong Aviation Industrial Park, drawing precisely on the park's comprehensive low-altitude aviation industry infrastructure. As Sichuan Province's only provincial-level economic and technological development zone specialising in the drone and general aviation sectors, the park boasts two general aviation airports, 1,000 square kilometres of dedicated airspace and Sichuan's leading low-altitude operations management system, providing unique conditions for the integrated operation of manned and unmanned aircraft. The park has now attracted more than 60 key aviation research institutes and enterprises, and has preliminarily established a full industrial chain encompassing aircraft manufacturing, supporting production and aviation service support, becoming a key hub for Sichuan's low-altitude economy.