2024-2025

Teams were required to complete the flight missions in sequence: starting with Mission 1, followed by Mission 2, then Mission 3. The Ground Mission could be attempted at any point, independent of the flight mission order. Each mission attempt began in a staging box, where teams had a 5-minute window to fully assemble the aircraft and install payloads and batteries. Once time expired, no further adjustments could be made to the aircraft, and the team was required to proceed to the flight line.

The aircraft had to be flown in a consistent configuration across all missions, unless changes were explicitly allowed in the rules. For Mission 1, pylons and payloads were excluded, while for Missions 2 and 3, pylons had to be installed regardless of whether payload components were flown. After successfully completing all three missions, teams were granted one additional attempt at both Missions 2 and 3 to improve their scores. Similarly, teams could retry the Ground Mission once if they had already completed it successfully.

Ground Mission 

The Ground Mission evaluated the team’s operational efficiency and aircraft configurability. Starting with a bare aircraft (no pylons, fuel tanks, or X-1 vehicle installed), the team had to install all external pylons, fuel tanks, and the X-1 glider under timed conditions. Only one ground crew member was allowed to touch the airplane during the demonstration, although the pilot was allowed to assist with control checks and the final glider release. The mission was divided into two timed stages. In the first stage, the crew member installed all declared pylons and paused the timer for inspection. In the second stage, the fuel tanks and X-1 vehicle were added, and all hatches were secured. Afterward, the pilot verified control functionality and released the X-1 vehicle, which had to successfully activate its flashing lights. The total time it took to complete the mission determined the team’s score, with faster, error-free completions earning the most points. 

Mission 1 

Mission 1 was a baseline test to demonstrate the fundamental flight capabilities of the aircraft. The aircraft was flown without any payload or pylons installed. It entered the staging box with its propulsion battery packs removed, and during the 5-minute staging window, the ground crew installed the battery and prepared the plane for flight. The aircraft then had to complete three laps of the flight course within a 5-minute flight window. Time began when the aircraft’s throttle was first advanced for takeoff. A lap was considered complete when the airplane passed over the start/finish line in the air. A successful mission required the aircraft to finish all three laps within the allotted time and complete a safe landing on the runway. 

Mission 2 

Mission 2 tested the aircraft’s ability to carry a full payload under loaded flight conditions. The payload consisted of two or more externally mounted fuel tanks and the X-1 test vehicle, all of which had to be installed during the staging window. Teams entered the staging box with the aircraft in a disassembled state, and the fuel tanks and X-1 vehicle were weighed before installation. Once all components were secured, the aircraft took off and aimed to complete three laps within the standard 5-minute flight window. The mission score was based on both fuel weight and time to complete the laps, with the goal being to carry as much fuel as possible while completing the course quickly. A successful landing was required for the mission to be scored. 

Mission 3

Mission 3 was the most complex and high-risk mission, requiring both precision and autonomy. The aircraft carried the X-1 test vehicle and at least two fuel tanks (which could be empty). The X-1 vehicle and fuel tanks were installed during staging, and the glider’s weight was recorded. After takeoff, the aircraft completed at least one lap and then released the X-1 vehicle mid-flight, between 200–400 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot had to confirm launch altitude with the Flight Line Judge before releasing the vehicle.

After release, the X-1 was expected to autonomously enter stable flight, perform a 180-degree turn, and land within a designated “bonus box”. The vehicle also had to activate flashing lights or strobes immediately after launch, and they had to remain on while at rest to qualify for bonus points. The aircraft was required to complete one more lap and land within the 5-minute window. The score combined the number of laps completed before launch with bonus points derived from landing accuracy and the X-1's weight. A safe landing by both the aircraft and glider was necessary for the attempt to be valid.

Aircraft Requirements

2025 Specific: The 2025 competition introduced unique design constraints inspired by the Bell X-1 supersonic flight program. One of the fundamental limitations was a maximum wingspan restriction: the main aircraft could not exceed six feet in total span. This requirement imposed tight packaging and aerodynamic efficiency constraints on teams, encouraging innovative wing designs that balanced performance with shaping.

A major feature of the 2025 challenge was the addition of an autonomous glider, referred to as the X-1 test vehicle. Teams were required to design this glider so that it could be deployed mid-flight from the main aircraft. The X-1's wings had to fit between the left and right external fuel tanks with a minimum clearance of 0.25 inches between the test vehicle and any part of the main aircraft. After being released in flight, the X-1 needed to transition into stable autonomous flight, perform a 180-degree turnaround maneuver, and land precisely within a designated “bonus box” area on the field. To earn full mission credit, the glider also had to activate flashing strobe lights upon deployment, simulating visual tracking systems.

In addition to deploying the X-1, the primary aircraft was required to carry two commercially available fuel tank bottles. These had to be mounted externally using pylons, which added structural and aerodynamic challenges to the aircraft design. The combination of compact dimensions, external payloads, and autonomous glider deployment made the 2025 competition particularly demanding in terms of payload integration, structural integrity, and flight dynamics.

Scores

With a proposal score of 81 and a design score of 83.90, our overall report score was 83.50, which placed us at number 22 in the flight line. We received a score of 0.1 on the ground mission, a score of 1.00 on Mission 1, a score of 0.00 on Mission 2, and a score of 0.00 on Mission 3. Our total mission score was a 1.10. Unfortunately, we suffered a crash during Mission 2, and we were not able to rebuild the plane and continue competing. 

Our overall score was 94.91, putting us in 60th place!