Youngsters' aircraft-building dreams soar this summer in Deqing

Over 1,000 young flight enthusiasts from more than 20 provinces and municipalities across China recently gathered in Deqing County, east China's Zhejiang Province to join in an aircraft design competition for young people. The competition was hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China and co-organized by leading experts from several major universities.

The competition features three major categories – fixed-wing, rotary-wing and rocket, covering seven events, including glider flights as well as model rocket launches and recovery. Guided by the philosophy of "from blueprint to flight," the competition spans aircraft design, hands-on building, on-site operation and team collaboration, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the young participants' innovative thinking and practical skills. As the young aviators tackle real-world challenges, they apply interdisciplinary knowledge, gain practical experience and develop an engineering mindset, allowing their creativity to flourish.

"I hope to design new aircraft and contribute to our nation's aerospace development in the future," said contestant Hao Pingfan. This year's competition combines the fields of aviation outreach, design innovation and flight practice. Meanwhile, backed by the professional guidance and technical support of university experts, the competition provides an authentic aerospace engineering learning environment. With the aim of cultivating future scientists and engineers, the competition encourages young people to turn their spirit of exploration into a lasting drive for innovation while igniting their future aspirations in aviation.

"We will use this competition as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with universities and research institutes, and transform Deqing into both a hub for youth aviation science education and the low-altitude economy," said a local official from Leidian Town in Deqing County, where the competition is being held.