AME - Hypersonic Flight Design Competition

The 2026 University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH) Design Competition is focused on an unpowered, high lift-to-drag, hypersonic projectile for low altitude operation. 

The winning concept will be eligible for ground-based gun-launched flight experiments with the Army Research
Laboratory and/or wind tunnel tests within the 48-inch LENS Tunnel at CUBRC. The competition is open to all UCAH
membership universities. Formal classroom design teams (e.g., senior capstone) and university club organization are
encouraged to participate.

The UCAH website provides contact information for potential industry and national laboratory members of UCAH to serve as advisors. 

Name of research group, project, or lab
Undergraduate Hypersonic Flight Design Competition
Website
https://hypersonics.nd.edu/
Representative publication
FY26_245-UCAH-Design-Challenge-Flyer.pdf
Logistics Information:
Project categories
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Student ranks applicable
Junior
Senior
Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours
Compensation
Research for Credit
Number of openings
4
Project start
Fall 2026
Contact Information:
Mentor
Joseph Heston
jheston2@nd.edu
Visiting Asst. Professor
Name of project director or principal investigator
Thomas Corke
Email address of project director or principal investigator
tcorke@nd.edu
4 sp. | 0 appl.
Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours
Project categories
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering