Faster and heavier than the competition –that's what the international student competition “AirCargoChallenge” is all about. With 18 billiard balls on board, the model airplane from the university group Akamodell sailed to first place - for the fourth time in the competition's history. “Our aircraft has proven to be very reliable,” says Yannick Schäfer, team leader at Akamodell. “In the overall standings, this gave us a considerable lead over second place.”
Putting theory into practice
The Akamodell team, composed of eight aerospace engineering students, leverages their expertise to develop innovative solutions and rigorously test them in real-world scenarios. "We design detailed technical plans to achieve a specific objective. This approach enhances our understanding of lecture material and provides us with valuable, professionally relevant experience," says Yannick.
The competition task specifically involves transporting the maximum possible payload, which this year consists of billiard balls, within a defined flight mission. The teams must start on a maximum runway of 60 meters. After a 30-second climb, two 90-second flight maneuvers follow: The aim is to cover the greatest possible distance, first in efficient flight with low electric propulsion, then at full power. “Our aircraft has been specifically designed for gliding,” explains Yannick. “At times, we were able to glide without engine thrust, thereby conserving power. During the efficiency flight, the team covered two kilometers, and even reached 2.8 kilometers at full power.
Team scores with optimized aircraft design
“The technical design of the drivetrain is precisely defined by the competition regulations,” explains Yannick. The aircraft must be electrically powered. The maximum battery voltage and the power consumption of the electric motor are predefined.
The teams have one year to prepare the design, construction and building of their model airplanes. “This year’s project was particularly complex. We decided to equip our aircraft with retractable landing gear,” says Yannick. Unlike passenger airplanes, the landing gear of model airplanes is often not retracted after take-off due to space constraints. What's more, the wheels are relatively large because the aircraft takes off on a grass runway - the larger the wheels, the less rolling resistance.
However, both together mean more resistance in the air. Yannick and his team came up with a solution to fly faster. Ultimately, they managed to integrate the landing gear into the thin wings with an optimized, aerodynamic aircraft design and highly complex mechanics. “It was a huge technical effort, but ultimately it gave us an enormous competitive advantage,” says Yannick.
AirCargoChallenge 2026 to be held in Stuttgart
The winning team will host the next round of the competition. However, the Stuttgart students will only be there as spectators. “The rules are redefined every year by the competition organizers, which is why the current winning team is not allowed to take part in the challenge.”
About Akamodell
Akamodell Stuttgart e.V. is a university group of the University of Stuttgart, technically supported by the Institute of Aerodynamics and Gas Dynamics (IAG), the Institute for Machine Tools (IfW) and the Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB). AkaModell receives financial support from the Association of Friends of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Stuttgart [de] and from MTU Aero Engines. Components and materials are provided by Chaservo, Multiplex, GRM and Servorahmen.
Jacqueline Gehrke
Editor Science Communication