What we do as the Aerospace Society
The Aerospace Society at Swansea is the perfect place for students passionate about aviation, space, and cutting-edge technology, and it’s not just for engineers! Our mission is to provide hands-on, extracurricular experience that complements your university studies and helps you stand out in your future career. The society’s core purpose is to support students by helping them overcome any weaknesses they may have, without the pressure of academic stress. This way, you can truly fall in love with the process and genuinely enjoy taking part in extracurricular competitions.
We will also be selling merchandise! So far, we have planned jumpers and fleeces, beanies, polos, and stickers. For more information, please reach out or come see us at the Freshers’ Fair.
2025-2026 Competition Plan
- UAS (2026)
We will be submitting a team to compete in the 2026 UAS Challenge, hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This competition challenges teams to design, build, and operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) that flies autonomously, demonstrating advanced skills in aerodynamics, electronics, and software control. In 2025, our team took part when the specific challenge was to carry a payload between 1.25 kg and 6 kg that had to be dropped accurately while in flight. This required careful design, precision engineering, and strong teamwork to succeed.
The UAS team welcomes members from all backgrounds and skill levels—whether you’re interested in mechanical design, programming, electronics, project management, or testing and operations, there’s a role for you. Being part of the team means committing to regular meetings, workshops, and hands-on sessions where you’ll develop practical skills and collaborate closely with others. If you want to push your limits, work on real-world aerospace challenges, and be part of a supportive and motivated group, joining the UAS Challenge team is an amazing opportunity to grow and shine. team limit 10-15
- SWAN 2026
This competition is an internal event designed to be very similar to the UAS Challenge but scaled down to allow more students to participate and learn the fundamentals of constructing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and general remote-controlled (RC) planes. It provides a friendly, supportive environment for beginners and those with less experience to get involved in aerospace design, teamwork, and practical skills without the pressure of an external competition.
Teams will consist of 6 to 8 members, encouraging collaboration and skill-sharing across different areas such as design, building, programming, and flight testing. This internal competition is a great stepping stone for students interested in progressing to more advanced challenges like the full UAS Challenge, helping them build confidence and hands-on experience in aerospace engineering.
Trips and events for 2026
We will be running five key events at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year:
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Introduction to our Society and what we do
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Introduction to RC planes and initial considerations
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Overview of general UAS design options
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Introduction to propellers, motors, batteries, and general UAS electronics
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Introduction to CAD using SolidWorks and Onshape
These events are open to all members, whether or not you are involved in the UAS or SWAN competitions. They are designed for anyone who wants to learn new skills or explore new hobbies.
Later in the year, we are planning to run more informative sessions, such as picking your third or fourth-year research projects and preparing for industry or summer placements. These sessions will give you the opportunity to hear from students who have been in your shoes and gained valuable experience to help guide you through these tough decisions. It will be an event for students, run by students, where there are no silly questions or judgments—just support and useful advice.
We also have two proposed trips that we would love to organize: one to the South Wales RAF Museum and another to the Bristol Space Museum. We will do our best to keep the costs as affordable as possible for everyone.
Socials
Even though we will be focusing on extracurricular activities and competitions, having fun and building genuine connections it’s just as important (and a cheeky bit of networking too!). We will be running socials throughout the year, from movie nights in lecture theaters to the traditional Christmas quiz. We want to make sure you have a fantastic time at Swansea, and we’re here to help make that happen, both academically and socially.
Flight simulator sessions
Members of the society can come and have a blast using the university’s flight simulators—everything from flying a jet to trying out one of your own designs! If there’s enough interest, we’ll run weekly or biweekly sessions. Just reach out, and we can arrange something.
Join Now!
Our membership fee is £5 for the whole year. This money goes towards funding all the events and activities we organize. Some competitions may have additional fees, but these will be discussed during the introduction event or at the Freshers’ Fair.
Click here to join our discord server!
Disclaimer: Please message us before purchasing merch so we can confirm the correct size. We order in batches, so sometimes you might have to wait until we have enough people.