OSU's First Vertical Flight Society Student Chapter & DBVF Team

A Project by Vertical Flight Society

Help OSU’s Vertical Flight Society (VFS) Student Chapter take flight.
Founded in August 2025, our new student chapter is building a team for the 2026 VFS Design • Build • Vertical Flight (DBVF) competition—an international challenge to design, build, and fly an electric VTOL aircraft. Your gift directly equips students (from first-years to graduate researchers) with hands-on experience in design, fabrication, flight testing, and systems engineering.

What your gift powers: airframe materials (carbon, foam, CNC), motors/ESCs/props, flight batteries and charging, autopilot & sensors, telemetry, safety gear and spares, test-range fees, and competition travel.

Why it matters: beyond classroom learning, DBVF builds the talent pipeline Oklahoma’s aerospace industry needs—students graduate with real flight-test hours, teamwork, and leadership.

Recognition: all donors are thanked on our website/socials. Larger gifts may include logo placement on the team banner, shirts, and (where rules/safety allow) the aircraft.
In-kind support (parts, fabrication, or software licenses) is also welcome—email anthony.comer@okstate.edu.

Thank you for helping us go from concept to competition—and for investing in the next generation of vertical-flight engineers at OSU.

Please enter the amount you would like to contribute*:

per charge

Or select a giving level below

$25

Ground Crew

“Every bolt counts.” Helps cover shop consumables, 3D-print filament, adhesives, connectors, and safety gear used on each prototype. Donors receive: Thank-you on our website + social media; name on the PhilanthroPete donor wall.

$100

Hover Supporter

“Get it off the ground.” Funds a matched propeller set, wiring/terminals, LiPo safety equipment, or basic avionics harness items. Donors receive: Email updates from the build and flight-test campaign + $25 recognition.

$250

Transition Partner

“Power + control.” Typically covers a high-capacity flight battery or a pair of ESCs, plus spares for flight-test readiness. Donors receive: Invite to an on-campus demo day/lab tour + $100 or below recognition.

$1,000

Avionics Sponsor

“Brains on board.” Supports a flight controller (Pixhawk-class), GPS/compass, telemetry radio, and ground-station accessories for the competition airframe. Donors receive: Logo on team website and pit banner at events; optional short shout-out during demo day; 1 draw at naming the competition vehicle + $250 and below recognition.

$2,500

Flight-Test Leader

“From prototype to competition.” Funds major airframe materials (carbon/foam/CNC), motors and spares, flight-test instrumentation, and a portion of DBVF travel. Donors receive: Prominent logo on the aircraft (where rules/safety permit) and team shirts; invitation to a private flight-test showcase with the team; 3 draws at naming the competition vehicle + $1000 and below recognition.

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FAQ

How will the OSU Foundation manage my information?

Information submitted to the Oklahoma State University Foundation shall be governed by its Privacy Statement.

Will my PhilanthroPete gift be tax-deductible?

Yes. Each gift will receive a receipt for your contribution. If you selected a perk with an associated benefit, the fair-market value will be deducted from your gift when applicable. We generate a gift receipt and send it you for tax purposes usually within the week we receive your gift.

How can I double my donation?

Many companies match gifts to higher education, which can double or triple your gift. To find out if your employer (or your spouse's employer) has a matching gift program, please visit https://osugiving.com/your-gift/employer-matching.

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Who can I contact with questions about my gift?

If you have questions about making your gift, please contact the OSU Foundation at 800.622.4678.

Will you notify the honoree of my tribute gift?

At this time, we will not notify every honoree of tribute gifts. However, you are always welcome to share a link to the donor wall where your tribute will be published with the honoree directly.