The Mission
The 2026 Air Cargo Challenge was held in Stuttgart, organised by Akamodell Stuttgart — the team that had won in 2024. The task: carry as many cans as possible, as far as possible, in two minutes of timed flight.
The payload consisted of 0.33-liter cans (350 grams each), which had to be housed inside the aircraft structure without touching one another. With a mandatory motor standard for all teams, the real competition shifted to two strategic fronts. The first was prediction accuracy: overestimating the carrying capacity resulted in penalties far outweighing the potential points gained. The second was power management: exceeding the 30-ampere threshold incurred a penalty for every excess ampere-second.
What changed from 2024
| Aspect | 2024 · Aachen | 2026 · Stuttgart |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | pool billiard balls, 170 g each | 0.33 l cans, 350 g each |
| Motor | one only, T-Motor AT2826 | up to two, T-Motor AT2814 |
| Current | no limit | penalties above 30 A, zero score above 70 A |
| The flight | 30 s climb, 90 s efficiency, 90 s distance | 60 s free climb, 120 s distance |
| Flight duration | 210 seconds | 180 seconds |
| Efficiency task | scored | dropped: the current limit replaces it |
| Transport box | edges summed within 1400 mm | within 1500 mm |