Opportunity brief
About:
The National Aeromodelling Challenge is presented by Techfest, IIT Bombay, for students passionate about aerospace and engineering. Teams design, build, and fly their own fixed-wing electric RC aircraft that carries golf-ball payloads. They first prove their aircraft can carry and land a payload safely, then complete a timed two-trip delivery mission. Ready-made models are not allowed. Bring your aircraft to life at Techfest, IIT Bombay, Asia's largest science and technology festival.
Structure:
- The competition has an abstract screening stage, followed by a Qualifier Round and a Main Round at Techfest, IIT Bombay.
- Eligibility: Open to school, UG, and PG students. Teams can include students from different colleges or schools. Participants must carry a bona fide certificate signed by their HoD/Dean/Principal and a valid ID card.
- Team Size: 2 to 4 members. A participant can be part of only one team.
- Problem Statement: Design, build, and fly a fixed-wing aircraft that carries golf-ball payloads (45 g, 43 mm diameter, supplied by organizers) and completes the tasks in each round.
Abstract Submission (Online):
- Submit an abstract of under 15 pages (A4, 1.5 line spacing) in the official Aeromodelling 2026 Abstract Form format.
- The abstract should cover the aircraft's basic design (dimensions, wing area, velocity, etc.) and how it suits the problem.
- Attach a zip file of 5-10 photographs taken while building the aircraft.
- Abstracts not following the format will not be evaluated.
Round 1 - Qualifier Round:
- Carry one or more golf balls inside the aircraft, fly for at least 30 seconds within a 3-minute window, and land with the payload inside the designated area.
- Score = (payload weight x 100) / aircraft weight without payload.
- Each team gets two attempts, and the best counts.
- The top 30 teams advance to the Main Round.
Round 2 - Main Round:
- Complete a round trip of payload delivery within 3 minutes: load, take off, fly at least 30 seconds, land, unload, reload, take off again, fly at least 30 seconds, land, and unload.
- Loading must be hands-free, using transmitter-operated compartment doors.
- Score = E1 + E2 - C1 - C2 - C3. Each delivered golf ball earns 10 points per trip, and each second spent on the ground during loading and unloading costs 1 point.
- Each team gets two attempts, and the best counts.
- Overall Score = 0.25 x Normalized Qualifier Score + 0.75 x Normalized Main Round Score. Ties are broken by a separate round framed by the judges.
Design Constraints:
- The aircraft must be designed and built by the team (no RTF/ARF/BNF models).
- Maximum weight is 1 kg without payload.
- Thrust-to-weight ratio must not exceed 1 without payload.
- Wingspan is up to 1.2 m, with no tolerance.
- Propeller diameter is up to 13 inches, and metal propellers are not allowed.
- Electric motors only.
- Gyroscopes, programmed mission steps, FPV, and any flying support are prohibited.
Timeline:
- Registration Deadline: 25th November 2026
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 25th November 2026
- Abstract Result Announcement: 1st December 2026
- Qualifier Round: 15th-16th December 2026
- Main Round: 17th December 2026
Rules:
- Register online to receive a Team ID. No late entries are accepted.
- The same aircraft described in the abstract must be used in both rounds. Damaged aircraft can be repaired but not replaced.
- No modifications to the aircraft are allowed after the thrust-to-weight ratio is measured.
- A 2.4 GHz radio is required. Any other frequency must be informed to the organizers in advance.
- Landing must be within the inner boundary, otherwise a 20% penalty applies. Touching or crossing the outer boundary disqualifies the attempt.
- Teams must be ready at their turn, or they lose it.
- Teams must not share aircraft components with other teams.
- Safety violations or misconduct will lead to penalties or disqualification.
- The judges' and organizers' decisions are final and binding.
- Updates will be posted on the Techfest website and sent to registered teams. For official announcements, contact satwik@techfest.org (queries via email will not be entertained).
Rewards and Prizes:
- Top 3 Winners: INR 1,00,000
- Certificates: All participants who qualify for Round 2 will receive a certificate.