The University of Cincinnati Aerocats have propelled their way to the top at a prestigious aviation competition.
Up against 34 teams in a test of design, build and flight, the UC Aerocats' plane took to the skies, climbing to a fourth-place finish in the regular class and a first-place ranking among advanced teams.
"We were walking in, shooting for top five," says Dylan Lawrence, an aerospace engineering student serving as Aerocats' 2025 regular team lead. "This placement overall … this was something we were really proud of."
According to Lawrence, many of the Aerocats' most critical moments happen far away from takeoff day in Florida, both in time and distance:
One of Lawrence's key takeaways from his Aerocats experience is "understanding execution." According to him, in engineering, "Everything being put on paper is a lot simpler than what you're actually going through doing … so manufacturing is half, if not more than half, of the process."
Having a reliable place to manufacture greatly matters to the Aerocats for this reason. The 12,000-square-foot 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace, Greater Cincinnati's largest facility of its kind, provides the equipment, mentorship and certifications the team needs to succeed.
And suddenly the Aerocats were cleared for takeoff.
After countless hours in the Ground Floor Makerspace, trial moments on the runway in Dayton and a sleepless 16-hour drive to Central Florida, the Aerocats were ready to pounce on the competition.
The team's emotions hit a fever pitch leading into the final flight, according to Lawrence.
"Being there on the day of the competition - especially before anybody's flown - is very exciting, but very nerve-wracking," he said.
While it's exhilarating talking to 34 teams from other colleges and seeing novel designs, that adds to the competition's suspense: What if they're onto something we're not?
There's no need to sweat, though, beyond the sweltering heat of Central Florida. The team knows what it's doing. Now, the fate of the flight lies in the hands of the team's pilot as he performs final flight checks and places the Aerocats' pride and joy on the runway.
Armed with Bearcat engineering expertise, expertly designed and constructed parts and a driven, ambitious team, the Aerocats soared to success in Florida. What's next? Celebration … and maybe plans for an even stronger comeback next March.
If you're ready to design, build and fly alongside the Aerocats, join the team and take flight with UC's next generation of innovators. Contact the UC Aerocats.
