The final of the 2026 China Universities Aircraft Design Competition (CUADC) concluded in Zigong, Sichuan, with the Southern University of Science and Technology’s (SUSTech) team won multiple awards.

Team photo of the participants

Ground Testing and Design Defense

The SUSTech team was established based on the Aeromodelling Team, bringing together 22 members from the Aeromodelling and ARTINX teams alongside other student innovation groups. The team is supported and managed by the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, with Lecturer Lihao GAO serving as the mentor and team leader. SUSTech’s team  competed in events including precision airdrop, logistics mission flight, and time-limited cargo flight, winning two national third-place awards, one first-class award, three second-class awards, three third-class awards, and one Outstanding Design Award.

Organized annually by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, CUADC is currently the most prestigious, large-scale, and competitive university-level aircraft design competition in China. This year’s event attracted over 6,000 faculty and students from more than 200 universities across multiple countries and regions, with over 700 teams advancing to the finals, setting a new record for participation.