Five students from El Segundo High School’s aerospace engineering class earned third place in the 2025 Aviation Design Challenge, a nationwide competition hosted by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
The team—Brianna Nelson, Rushil Ghosh, Vincent Davis, Owen Barnhart, and Cameron Gurr—competed against nearly 100 teams from across the country, making their third-place finish a significant achievement.
As part of the challenge, students first completed GAMA’s “Fly to Learn” curriculum, which explores the science of flight and aircraft design. They then applied their knowledge to modify a virtual Cessna aircraft, optimizing it for maximum flight time and fuel efficiency. They tested their design in a simulated fly-off using X-Plane software.
“We are incredibly proud of these students for their impressive performance in the Aviation Design Challenge,” said Superintendent Dr. Jason Johnson. “This result reflects their hard work and growing understanding of aerospace engineering. It’s exciting to see their talents and efforts recognized on a national level.”
Each student on the third-place team will receive a one-year ForeFlight Performance Plus subscription to support their aerospace education.
To learn more about GAMA’s Aviation Design Challenge, visit https://gama.aero/opportunities-in-ga/aviation-challenge/.