NFFSU

AE-24 2023
A Model Aircraft Competition for Middle School, High School & College Students

Sponsored by the National Free Flight Society

Eligibility to Enter

Entry deadline: December 1, 2023
No entry fee.

Model must be flown outdoors.

One flight per entry, Longest flight time wins (see bonuses below*).

This competition is open to any middle school, high school, university, or community college student ages 10-25 in the United States. Student ID or proof of enrollment is required.

Submit a video or video link of the flight to the NFFS AE24 Competition Director: ross.jahnke@nicholls.edu. Please put AE24 in the subject line.

Entrants need not be members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) or the National Free Flight Society (NFFS) to enter.

Aircraft Specifications

This Free Flight model may be from a kit, published plans, or of your own design; be creative!

Wingspan shall not exceed 24 inches (61cm) when it is in assembled condition. The wing is the largest flying surface on the model no matter the configuration. Fuselage length is not limited. The flying surfaces shall provide the sole source of lift (no balloons etc.), and may be made from foam, balsa, carbon fiber, tissue paper, and/or plastic film.

The propeller shall be an unmodified commercially available plastic freewheeling propeller up to 8.5 inches (22cm) in diameter. Weight may be added to balance the propeller. The propeller will be the sole source of thrust for the model.

A wound rubber band shall be the sole source of energy to turn the propeller (No R/C, electric motors, engines, catapults).

Flights will be timed from the moment the model is launched to the time it lands, measured in seconds.

Bonuses for hand built balsa and tissue construction.

An example of a model with a stick fuselage, & balsa and tissue wings.

Final score will be flight time multiplied by 125% for all balsa wood, or built-up (balsa wood, tissue, etc.) airplanes with a stick fuselage. No foam flying surfaces.

An example of a model with a built-up fuselage, where the rubber band is inside the structure.

Final score will be flight time multiplied by 150% for all balsa wood, or built-up (balsa wood, tissue, etc.) with a built-up fuselage, where the rubber motor is inside the fuselage. No foam flying surfaces.

Prizes
1st Prize – $100 Amazon gift card
2nd Prize – $50 Amazon gift card
3rd Prize – $25 Amazon gift card

For details, model specifications, and how to enter, download this PDF file

AE24 Model Specifications for the 2023 Contest

This free flight model may be from a kit, published plans, or of your own design – be creative!
Wingspan shall not exceed 24 inches (61cm) when it is in assembled condition. The wing is the largest flying surface on the model no matter the configuration. Fuselage length is not limited. The flying surfaces shall provide the sole source of lift (no balloons etc.), and may be made from foam, balsa, and/or tissue paper.
The propeller shall be an unmodified commercially available plastic freewheeling propeller up to 8.5 inches (22cm) in diameter. Weight may be added to balance the propeller. The propeller will be the sole source of thrust for the model.
A wound rubber motor shall be the sole means of energy to turn the propeller (No R/C, electric motors, engines, catapults)
Flights will be timed from the moment the model is launched to the time it lands, measured in seconds.