IADA Named Tech Sponsor for 2026 Design Challenge

The International Aircraft Dealers Association Foundation has been named the technology sponsor for the 2026 General Aviation Manufacturers Association Aviation Design Challenge, committing up to $15,000 to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through aviation. The program, now in its fourteenth year, introduces U.S. high school students to aircraft design principles using a curriculum that incorporates flight simulation and aircraft design.

As technology sponsor, the IADA Foundation will fund software, digital tools, and technical resources used throughout the nationwide competition. “Supporting the GAMA Aviation Design Challenge reflects the IADA Foundation’s commitment to strengthening the future of aviation through education, innovation, and opportunity,” said Suzanne Meiners-Levy, chair of the IADA Foundation. “By helping make the technology behind this program accessible to students, we are investing in the next generation of engineers, pilots, and aviation leaders who will carry this industry forward.”

Teams participating in the challenge use the Fly to Learn curriculum and X-Plane-powered flight simulation to design, test, and refine an aircraft for a simulated mission. Submissions are evaluated based on mission performance, design changes, a summary video, and a test-flight checklist. GAMA president and CEO James Viola said the competition “continues to inspire students from all backgrounds to see aviation as an accessible and exciting career path” and praised the IADA Foundation for its support.

Teams receive complimentary access to all materials, and the winning group earns an all-expenses-paid general aviation experience. Registration closes Dec. 19, 2025.