History
Husky Air has a long history at Michigan Tech, with generations of students competing in SAE Aero Design and earning strong finishes at competition. One of the team’s most memorable projects was a nearly full carbon-fiber aircraft that pushed the limits of the competition rules and became part of Husky Air’s legacy as SAE later introduced restrictions on carbon-fiber use.
The original team continued through the 2023–2024 season before becoming inactive. Following a year away from competition, Husky Air was revived within AERE and returned to SAE Aero Design for the 2025–2026 season. Today, the team is rebuilding that competitive tradition while giving a new generation of students the opportunity to design, manufacture, test, and fly their own aircraft.
Our Goal
Husky Air’s primary goal is to design, build, test, and compete with a fully student-built aircraft at the SAE Aero Design competition. Each season, the team works through the complete engineering process—from early concepts and analysis through manufacturing, flight testing, and competition—with an emphasis on rapid prototyping, experimentation, and learning from failures early in development.
Beyond competition, Husky Air aims to develop better engineers by providing hands-on experience in structures, aerodynamics, electronics, manufacturing, and project management. The team continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities, explore new construction methods and aircraft configurations, and create an environment where students can experiment, iterate, and push the limits of what they can build.
Latest Updates
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Husky Air: 2025–2026 SAE Aero Design
During the 2025–2026 season, AERE’s Husky Air team designed and manufactured a high-wing radio-controlled aircraft for the SAE Aero Design competition. The aircraft featured a 10-foot wingspan, twin electric motors, a conventional tail, and a lightweight balsa-frame structure reinforced with aluminum spars. Throughout the development process, the team conducted aerodynamic analysis, structural testing, and manufacturing,…
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Spring 2025 – Demo Plane
Spring 2025 marked the first semester of AERE and the beginning of its Husky Air team. During this initial semester, the team focused on developing the engineering knowledge and design capabilities needed to create an aircraft that could meet the requirements of its intended competition. Students worked through the aircraft design process, gaining experience in…