Chantilly, Virginia is home to one of the world’s largest collections of aerospace artifacts—and to one of its most promising young innovators. Dev Goda, a junior at Chantilly High School and the 2025 TSA Flight Competition champion, takes his admiration for aerospace a step beyond awe. Spending his days dreaming and his nights experimenting, he’s a standout example of what curiosity, grit, and hands-on learning can achieve.
Failure is the First Step
Dev Goda is no stranger to success. Over the past three years, he has competed in TSA Flight events with remarkable precision—not only in the design of his planes but also in narrowing the gap between his scores and first place. Participating in four to five national and up to two international competitions each year, Dev has earned a reputation for combining sharp observation with physics-driven strategy. This dedication recently culminated in his winning the title of TSA National Champion, outperforming students from all across the country.
Yet, what truly propelled Dev from being the middle school TSA president to a national champion wasn’t just talent—it was his approach to failure. “A champion has failed many more times than a good competitor has even tried,” Dev reflects. For him, failure is a deliberate and essential part of the process. In one competition, for example, he meticulously designed over fifty gliders before discovering the right one. Rather than settling for solutions that simply work, Dev constantly pushes himself to improve his designs. This relentless drive to refine and rethink fuels both his progress and passion.
In this competitive arena, perseverance is key. A matter of seconds can separate first and second place, and every detail counts. Of the 130 total points, 60 come from the flight itself, while the remaining 70 are awarded for the portfolio. This portfolio goes beyond a typical report; it demands a detailed explanation of every design decision. Dev must demonstrate a deep understanding of how each component—from the wood type to the amount of glue used—interacts physically and chemically to affect his plane’s performance. Success depends on connecting math, science, and engineering principles and showing how these variables work together in practice.
The complexity of these competitions is intentional. The real reward lies in the challenge itself—project-based problem solving offers students a tangible way to prove their skills. And when that project is an aerospace engineering challenge, the excitement and sense of accomplishment are even greater.
Building Confidence From Critical Thinking
You have to see it to dream it. As a young Dev marvelled at the planes on display at the National Air and Space Museum, those words found purpose: he realized then that he wanted to be an aerospace engineer. While seeing the aircraft showed him what was possible in the wide world of STEM, building them himself proved what was possible for him.
Unlike talent, confidence isn’t something Dev was born with—it was a virtue he gained. Over years of persisting through obstacles like low ceilings, chandeliers, too-heavy planes, and lost motor power, Dev became a pro—not of flight, but of problem-solving.
“You can’t use the same technique to solve different problems, and you can’t just move on from a problem. You need strong observational skills to figure out what went wrong so you can prevent it from happening again.”
Mastering physics is critical in these competitions. For instance, while many focus on making planes as lightweight as possible, Dev pays close attention to details like glue, which adds weight. He developed a technique to measure the glue he uses down to a tenth of a microliter, ensuring precision.
He also adapts to unpredictable factors during competitions. This year, for example, he modified his winding setup so he could add extra winds just before flying, compensating for the loss of power that occurs while waiting.
To be the best, Dev had to learn to be adaptive at every stage of the competition—from prep months before to flight day. In learning to prepare for anything, he became a competitor prepared for everything.
Flight for the Future
These competitions may be a big commitment, but they’re worth it. Dev’s father, Jignesh—a seasoned engineer and regional TSA judge—has seen firsthand the positive impact they have. “When you’re in school, you learn basic physics and chemistry, but you don’t always apply what you learn. In competitions, you apply everything.”
Hands-on engineering challenges allow kids to experience what STEM professions are really like. Knowing, for example, how physics works in theory is very different from interacting with it. In competition, concepts like aerodynamics and center of gravity aren’t academic terms but real variables that one has to master to keep a plane in the air.
Competitors run efficiency and weight calculations, analyze data, graph results, and compare performances to figure out what made their best flights successful. These real-world applications show how math and science intersect in tangible, often high-stakes ways. And the fast-paced, high-pressure environment mirrors the challenges of many future careers.
“One of the biggest skills I learned was time management,” Dev says. “When you only have 30 minutes to trim your plane to the right ceiling height, you have to stay focused. It involves some emotional management too.” Students have to stay composed while solving complex problems, a skill that proves valuable far beyond the competition floor.
Whether someone’s launching a business or leading a team, perseverance and emotional control matter. And those habits are built here, under fluorescent gym lights and the constant whir of timers.
Despite the intensity of the events, TSA communities are built on encouragement and collaboration. Even top rivals can become trusted mentors. It’s a place where newcomers are welcomed and everyone—coaches, judges, and students alike—is united by a shared passion for STEM.
In the world of TSA, every competitor is treated not just as a student, but as a future STEM professional. And supporting one another means investing in that future—together.
Navigating the (Flight) Path Ahead
Through years of trial, innovation, and tireless dedication, Dev has shown what it means to pursue excellence in STEM. He’s embraced challenge over perfection and turned every setback into a catalyst for growth.
By marking each mistake and analyzing each adjustment, Dev expanded the competition’s meaning beyond wins and losses. Every data point became a moment of insight; every failure, a chance to think differently. In learning how to build a better plane, he also built a better process—and a more resilient mindset.
The precision, focus, and adaptability that led him to a national title didn’t disappear when the plane hit the ground. They became habits of thinking he’ll carry far beyond the flight circle. Long after the timers stop and the scores are counted, the real outcome of the 2025 TSA Flight Competition lives on in how Dev approaches problems, pushes limits, and keeps learning.