Events and competitions

Racing
since 2019.

Four editions of the Air Cargo Challenge, up to fifth place in 2026. And in between, flying days, talks and events.

Air Cargo Challenge 2026 · Stuttgart

Fifth of 34. Our record.

From 30 June to 3 July we took Midnight to Stuttgart. Technical presentations and inspections at the University of Stuttgart campus in Vaihingen, flight rounds at the MFV Böblingen airfield: the winner flies the most payload with the most efficient aircraft.

The 2026 mission

Cans, climb and distance.

Fly as many 0.33 l cans as possible, as fast as possible. Each flight: take-off with a 60-second climb, then 120 seconds of distance flight and a safe landing. Bonus points for a shorter take-off run and for fast loading and unloading; fixed motor, penalties above 30 A.

We were Team 10: Midnight declared 8 cans, takes off in 55 metres and climbs to 150 metres in 60 seconds.

The competition

Air Cargo
Challenge

Learn more about the ACC ↗

The Air Cargo Challenge is a biennial aeronautical engineering competition that brings together university students from across Europe to show off their technical skills and creativity.

Launched in 2003 by a group of aerospace engineering students in Lisbon, it is aimed mainly at aeronautical and aerospace engineering students, in a spirit similar to North America’s Design/Build/Fly.

The challenge: design and build a radio-controlled aircraft that carries as much payload as possible, under rules that change every edition. Flight performance counts, and so does the technical quality of the design, shown through detailed reports and drawings.

The first edition, ACC’03, was organised by APAE at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. Since 2007 the competition has been coordinated by EUROAVIA, the European association of aerospace engineering students. A unique tradition: the winner hosts the next edition.

Our results

Our podium.

Four Air Cargo Challenges, four different aircraft. The top step is Stuttgart 2026.

6^°

of 30 teams

2022Kowalsky

5^°

of 34 teams

2026MidnightRecord

8^°

of about 30 teams

2019Marcoplano

10^°

of 30 teams

2024Zephira

The editions

Our races,
one by one.

2019

Marcoplano · 8° of about 30 teams

Our first competition

In August 2019 we took part in our first competition, against university teams from all over the world. Teams are judged on flight results and on design, documented in a technical report for the jury.

The race itself: fly your aircraft round a circuit of about 1 km carrying as much payload as possible in the shortest time. Payload prediction and loading speed count too.

Presentation

On day one we presented our work to the judges and to representatives of every team.

Technical inspection

The aircraft was inspected part by part to check it matched the design and the rules. The first thrill of our adventure.

Flying field

Then the flight sessions, at a beautiful field just outside Stuttgart. Bad weather and strong wind didn’t spare us, but Marcoplano fought bravely in every flight.

The result

The final ranking combines technical scores and race results: we finished eighth out of nearly thirty teams.

ACC 2019 · Marcoplano — ACC 2019 · 01/04

2022

Kowalsky · 6° of 30 teams

Blood bags and a field to reinvent

In 2022 we flew Kowalsky in a meaningful mission: carrying simulated blood bags, testing aerodynamic and structural efficiency and the ability to handle realistic scenarios.

At the last minute the planned flying field wasn’t available and teams had to reorganise fast. The team’s resilience and Kowalsky’s design flexibility made the difference.

Despite the difficulties, the aircraft proved reliable and solid, earning an excellent sixth place: clear proof of the team’s technical growth.

2024

Zephira · 10° of 30 teams

Rain, wind and a payload equal to its own weight

In 2024 we flew Zephira in one of the toughest editions ever: rain, strong wind and sudden changes made flight operations far harder than expected.

With its V-tail and airless-wheel landing gear, Zephira stayed stable and reliable even in extreme conditions, completing the trials and carrying a payload equal to its own weight.

We finished tenth, but the value of the experience goes beyond the ranking: it laid the foundations for what came next.