Flitefest 2026 STOL Heavy Lift Challenge

[FishbonesAir]

Eat yer hearts out DARPA... This is the first Flitefest STOL Heavy Lift Challenge. All foamies are welcome. Rules will be simple, because you do not have much time.

1) No aircraft that has been previously entered into a STOL competition may be used.
2) Structure must be primarily foam board or other types of foam construction. Balsa, plywood, CF, etc may be used to reinforce critical areas.
3) Electric power only

Judging
Aircraft should take off within 15 plane-lengths, based on individual aircraft. They will land in the same limited space. Points TBD, Bonus for shorter takeoff/landing, penalty for exceeding limits. Landing distance marked from touchdown point, to demonstrate aircraft ability, as pilot skills vary wildly. See bonus at end.

Payload will be based on Grams per Watt of total motor output at max throttle with a fully charged battery.

This should help level the playing field for small vs large Aircraft.

Sauce for the Goose; the odds will be even, if you can only afford a small airplane. Obviously focus on High Lift, and getting the most per Watt!

Han Solo Kessel Run (bonus, maybe... 😂) Hotshot pilot? Takeoff, max load. Penalty if you don't get off by minimum 15 lengths. Come back around, set up your landing, and land in the exact same strip of runway as you departed from. You have 15 lengths to set down AND STOP. Failure is not an option.

Edits and updates to follow.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Eat yer hearts out DARPA... This is the first Flitefest STOL Heavy Lift Challenge. All foamies are welcome. Rules will be simple, because you do not have much time.

1) No aircraft that has been previously entered into a STOL competition may be used.
2) Structure must be primarily foam board or other types of foam construction. Balsa, plywood, CF, etc may be used to reinforce critical areas.
3) Electric power only

Judging
Aircraft should take off within 15 plane-lengths, based on individual aircraft. They will land in the same limited space. Points TBD, Bonus for shorter takeoff/landing, penalty for exceeding limits. Landing distance marked from touchdown point, to demonstrate aircraft ability, as pilot skills vary wildly. See bonus at end.

Payload will be based on Grams per Watt of total motor output at max throttle with a fully charged battery.

This should help level the playing field for small vs large Aircraft.

Sauce for the Goose; the odds will be even, if you can only afford a small airplane. Obviously focus on High Lift, and getting the most per Watt!

Han Solo Kessel Run (bonus, maybe... 😂) Hotshot pilot? Takeoff, max load. Penalty if you don't get off by minimum 15 lengths. Come back around, set up your landing, and land in the exact same strip of runway as you departed from. You have 15 lengths to set down AND STOP. Failure is not an option.

Edits and updates to follow.

I will definitely join if I can!!

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Eat yer hearts out DARPA... This is the first Flitefest STOL Heavy Lift Challenge. All foamies are welcome. Rules will be simple, because you do not have much time.

1) No aircraft that has been previously entered into a STOL competition may be used.
2) Structure must be primarily foam board or other types of foam construction. Balsa, plywood, CF, etc may be used to reinforce critical areas.
3) Electric power only

Judging
Aircraft should take off within 15 plane-lengths, based on individual aircraft. They will land in the same limited space. Points TBD, Bonus for shorter takeoff/landing, penalty for exceeding limits. Landing distance marked from touchdown point, to demonstrate aircraft ability, as pilot skills vary wildly. See bonus at end.

Payload will be based on Grams per Watt of total motor output at max throttle with a fully charged battery.

This should help level the playing field for small vs large Aircraft.

Sauce for the Goose; the odds will be even, if you can only afford a small airplane. Obviously focus on High Lift, and getting the most per Watt!

Han Solo Kessel Run (bonus, maybe... 😂) Hotshot pilot? Takeoff, max load. Penalty if you don't get off by minimum 15 lengths. Come back around, set up your landing, and land in the exact same strip of runway as you departed from. You have 15 lengths to set down AND STOP. Failure is not an option.

Edits and updates to follow.

Does this allow Multirotors or Helis? (Thinking Chinhook....)

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Payload will be based on Grams per Watt of total motor output at max throttle with a fully charged battery.

So is it based on how many watts the motor can output, or how many watts used?

 

[LitterBug]

Eat yer hearts out DARPA... This is the first Flitefest STOL Heavy Lift Challenge. All foamies are welcome. Rules will be simple, because you do not have much time.

1) No aircraft that has been previously entered into a STOL competition may be used.
2) Structure must be primarily foam board or other types of foam construction. Balsa, plywood, CF, etc may be used to reinforce critical areas.
3) Electric power only

Judging
Aircraft should take off within 15 plane-lengths, based on individual aircraft. They will land in the same limited space. Points TBD, Bonus for shorter takeoff/landing, penalty for exceeding limits. Landing distance marked from touchdown point, to demonstrate aircraft ability, as pilot skills vary wildly. See bonus at end.

Payload will be based on Grams per Watt of total motor output at max throttle with a fully charged battery.

This should help level the playing field for small vs large Aircraft.

Sauce for the Goose; the odds will be even, if you can only afford a small airplane. Obviously focus on High Lift, and getting the most per Watt!

Han Solo Kessel Run (bonus, maybe... 😂) Hotshot pilot? Takeoff, max load. Penalty if you don't get off by minimum 15 lengths. Come back around, set up your landing, and land in the exact same strip of runway as you departed from. You have 15 lengths to set down AND STOP. Failure is not an option.

Edits and updates to follow.

What are we using to measure watts? I have an older power meter. This one is more modern than mine:

ToolKitRC WM150 Watt Meter - Get Yours Today! - RMRC

Get the ToolKitRC WM150 Watt Meter shipped fast from the best source for all your FPV gear, RMRC! Free shipping for qualified orders using the shipping deal.

www.readymaderc.com

 

[Houndpup Rc]

What are we using to measure watts? I have an older power meter. This one is more modern than mine:

ToolKitRC WM150 Watt Meter - Get Yours Today! - RMRC

Get the ToolKitRC WM150 Watt Meter shipped fast from the best source for all your FPV gear, RMRC! Free shipping for qualified orders using the shipping deal.

www.readymaderc.com

I will probably use my TBS Lucid Wing FC to measure it👍

 

[LitterBug]

Shouldn't there be a single.measureing device for all competiters?

I never noticed the faceplate on mine is upside down before. I use it to calibrate the current and voltage sensors on my FCs

 

[RickHunter]

I've got so many builds on the to do list can't make anything right now. But
I do have a fully built FT Legacy laying atound, so if that counts..... I'm in.

 

[FishbonesAir]

I've got so many builds on the to do list can't make anything right now. But
I do have a fully built FT Legacy laying atound, so if that counts..... I'm in.

Just can't have been entered before. Other than that, any airplane you got that meets the rules is fine. If I can't scare up time for a build, my Mini Guinea will pinch hit. But it needs wheels! 😁

 

[LitterBug]

Just can't have been entered before. Other than that, any airplane you got that meets the rules is fine. If I can't scare up time for a build, my Mini Guinea will pinch hit. But it needs wheels! 😁

I will have my watt meter at FF '26. I have a variety of connector adapters for testing various connector setups.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Shouldn't there be a single.measureing device for all competiters?

As long as a FC is calibrated what would be the advantages to using the same device and how much of a difference would there be?

 

[LitterBug]

As long as a FC is calibrated what would be the advantages to using the same device and how much of a difference would there be?

Using the same device minimizes the chance that the onboard monitoring isn't calibrated to the same standard. I have had some FCs that were super accurate on stock settings, and some that were nowhere close or would not calibrate well at all. I am going to guess that most builds are not going to have the ability to provide their own telemetry either.

Those taking part remotely will need to have their own way of measuring wattage.

 

[RickHunter]

I have this one. I will get my specs on the Legacy next week.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Using the same device minimizes the chance that the onboard monitoring isn't calibrated to the same standard. I have had some FCs that were super accurate on stock settings, and some that were nowhere close or would not calibrate well at all. I am going to guess that most builds are not going to have the ability to provide their own telemetry either.

Those taking part remotely will need to have their own way of measuring wattage.

I have this one. I will get my specs on the Legacy next week.
View attachment 259242

I actually have one of these too, but it only cost me a few bucks on Aliexpress and I'm a bit skeptical at how accurate it actually is vs an $80 FC😂

 

[FishbonesAir]

I will have my watt meter at FF '26. I have a variety of connector adapters for testing various connector setups.

I will bring mine, but I don't have many adapters and some of those are... scarey. 😆 Still good to have a backup.

Capt Fishbones

 

[LitterBug]

Maybe I should make some giant foamboard props and a foamboard quad frame....

 

[LitterBug]

Anyone need a 5' x 4x4 cardboard fuselage delivered to FF '26??

 

[FishbonesAir]

View attachment 259251
Anyone need a 5' x 4x4 cardboard fuselage delivered to FF '26??

Must... resist... packrat... instinct!

 

[LitterBug]

Must... resist... packrat... instinct!

We can team up on a project. I just built a nice fuselage for you to use ONLY @ FLITEFEST!. Less packratting

 

[FishbonesAir]

We can team up on a project. I just built a nice fuselage for you to use ONLY @ FLITEFEST!. Less packratting

Hmm, what happens at Flitefest, stays at Flitefest. I like the sound of that!