Public competition invites community to witness aviation’s next frontier
Feb 18, 2026
The skies above the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will become a proving ground for the future of aviation as it hosts the DARPA Lift Challenge, being run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from Aug. 2-9, 2026. The event challenges innovators to build unmanned aircraft, or drones, with revolutionary payload capabilities.
The Challenge: Shattering Aviation Limits
Today’s drones are typically limited to carrying a payload that is only equal to or less than their own weight. To break this barrier, DARPA is offering $6.5 million in prizes to university students, inventors, and companies who can design and fly a drone weighing 55 pounds (or less) with a goal of carrying four times its own weight (220 pounds) or more over a demanding 5-nautical-mile course.
A breakthrough in this payload-to-weight ratio would unlock a new era of possibilities for military and civilian applications, from disaster response and supply delivery to infrastructure inspection.
"The DARPA Lift Challenge is more than a competition; it is a chance for competitors to advance a critical technology that can improve many aspects of our society, and it’s an invitation to the American public to witness a potential leap in aviation,” said DARPA Lift Challenge Program Manager Phillip Smith. “The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s mission and collection of history serve as a testament to the spirit of innovation that the DARPA Lift Challenge embodies.”
As the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), provides a fitting backdrop for a competition focused on aviation innovation.
“We are pleased to be hosting the DARPA Lift Challenge at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force,” said National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Director David Tillotson. “This Lift Challenge will be taking place on Historic Wright Field which was the home of US Army/Air Force aviation innovation and development all the way through World War II, and remains the home of the Air Force Materiel Command which continues to be responsible for innovation and development in the US Air Force. We are pleased to see competitive innovation flying return to Wright Field.”
"Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has been at the heart of aerospace innovation since the dawn of flight,” said Col. Dustin C. Richards, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB. “Hosting the DARPA Lift Challenge at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is a natural fit, bridging our rich legacy with the limitless future of airpower. We are proud to provide the proving ground where the next generation of aviation pioneers will redefine what's possible, ensuring our Air Force maintains its decisive edge."
What to See and Do
The outdoor competition, including the final flyoff and awards ceremony on Aug. 9, will be open to the public. DARPA will announce the specific dates and times for public access closer to the event.
During public viewing hours, attendees can watch as teams compete for the grand prizes and additional awards in subjective categories, including:
- Most revolutionary aerodynamic design
- Most revolutionary powertrain design
- Most promising
Flite Fest*
Adding to the excitement, the popular radio-control (RC) aviation event, Flite Fest, will be co-located with the competition from August 6-9. Flite Fest is a family-friendly festival that brings together RC enthusiasts for days of flying, building, and fun, featuring do-it-yourself drone projects, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, and RC aerial combats.
General public access to the Lift Challenge and Flite Fest will be free of charge.1
*Federal endorsement not implied
To learn more, visit the official websites:
About the DARPA Lift Challenge
The DARPA Lift Challenge is a prize competition designed to incentivize the development of novel unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with significant payload-to-weight ratios. With $6.5 million in prizes, the challenge seeks to revolutionize vertical lift aviation for both military and civilian applications.
About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the service's national institution for preserving and presenting the Air Force story. The museum is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum, featuring more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display.
About Flite Fest
Flite Fest is one of the largest radio-control events in the world, bringing together aviation enthusiasts for a family-oriented festival of flight. The event features a wide range of STEM activities, including open flying, STEM build tents & workshops, and various forms of R/C combat and racing.
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Media with inquiries about the DARPA Lift Challenge should contact DARPA Public Affairs.
[1] Individuals interested in camping and piloting aircraft as part of Flite Fest must pre-register and are subject to associated ticketing costs.
