How Kingroon PA-CF Helped UMass Aeronautics Soar in the AIAA DBF Competition 2025

In the world of competitive aeronautics, every gram and every layer of material can mean the difference between soaring success and a missed opportunity. For the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Aeronautics team, that difference came in the form of Kingroon’s high-performance PA-CF filament.

The Challenge: Building a Winning Aircraft

Each year, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) hosts the Design/Build/Fly (DBF) competition—an intense engineering contest where university teams from around the globe create unmanned, electric-powered aircraft from scratch. The 2025 edition posed unique mission requirements demanding not just flight capability, but strength, weight efficiency, and real-world viability.

As the UMass Aeronautics DBF team prepared for the challenge, they faced a key hurdle: finding the right material to fabricate the aircraft's propeller system and structural frame. These components needed to be not only lightweight, but also exceptionally strong—capable of withstanding high-stress forces during flight and maneuvering.

Discovering Kingroon PA-CF

In their search for advanced 3D printing solutions, the team turned to a familiar name. Having previously used Kingroon PLA with success, one of the team members recommended Kingroon PA-CF—a carbon fiber reinforced nylon filament renowned for its strength, stiffness, and durability.

Kingroon responded to the team’s outreach with enthusiasm, sponsoring a supply of PA-CF filament to support the university’s innovation. The material’s properties were a perfect fit for the demanding engineering requirements: high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent heat resistance, and remarkable impact tolerance.

Design, Print, Fly

Over the following two months, the UMass team entered a period of intense design, iteration, and testing. Using Kingroon PA-CF, they 3D printed the aircraft’s main frame and propeller system—components where mechanical performance was critical. The result was a remote-controlled plane that was not only structurally sound, but also agile and lightweight.

The strength of PA-CF allowed the team to reduce weight without compromising durability, giving their aircraft the maneuverability and speed necessary to shine in competition trials.

Victory in New England—and Beyond

In March 2025, the team brought their aircraft to the AIAA DBF regional competition. Their hard work paid off: UMass Aeronautics placed 1st in New England, outperforming regional rivals. On the global stage, they achieved an impressive 25th place out of 121 international teams—a significant leap forward and a proud milestone for the university.

You can witness the team’s plane in action in this flight video, where it demonstrates excellent flight stability and speed—thanks in part to the performance edge provided by Kingroon PA-CF.

Why PA-CF Matters for Aerospace Innovation

Carbon fiber reinforced nylon, or PA-CF, is a go-to material for high-performance applications. In aerospace prototyping, its benefits are clear:

• Superior Strength & Rigidity: Ideal for load-bearing components.

• Lightweight Efficiency: Critical for aircraft agility and fuel efficiency.

• Thermal and Impact Resistance: Withstands harsh environments and mechanical stress.

These properties make Kingroon PA-CF a trusted choice not only in competition planes, but also in drone manufacturing, automotive prototyping, and industrial-grade mechanical parts.

Empowering the Engineers of Tomorrow

At Kingroon, we believe in supporting the next generation of engineers and makers. Partnering with the UMass Aeronautics DBF team reflects our commitment to education, innovation, and excellence in additive manufacturing.

Congratulations to the UMass team on their outstanding performance. We’re proud to have played a part in your journey to the skies.