Experience aviation history being made through live aviation experiments and hands-on STEM activities during four-day event
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™ will become a showcase for both the history and future of aviation Aug. 6–9 as it hosts the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Lift Challenge and Flite Fest. Visitors can explore the past and future of aviation—from historic aircraft inside the Museum to experimental drone technology in a live competition, demos, and hands-on workshops for all ages.
Vertical lift aviation—think helicopters and quadcopter drones—is limited to only niche use cases or those with large budgets. The DARPA Lift Challenge wants to fundamentally reinvent vertical lift technology by focusing on increasing aircraft’s payload-to-weight ratio; i.e., how much the aircraft can carry in relation to its own weight.
More than 100 teams representing startups, aerospace companies, universities, and independent inventors are expected to participate in the DARPA Lift Challenge, competing for a share of $6.5 million in prizes. Competitors will attempt to fly unmanned aircraft (drones) weighing no more than 55 pounds that carry four times their own weight—as much as 220 pounds or more—a feat that’s never been accomplished in vertical-lift aviation history. Visitors will be able to follow the live competition from designated spectator areas, where video captured along the course will be displayed on large screens.
At the same time, Flite Fest will take place on Museum grounds, bringing together the radio-control aviation community for flying demonstrations, build tents, STEM activities and opportunities for visitors to meet builders, pilots and aviation enthusiasts from across the country. Together, the events offer visitors an opportunity to see aviation innovation in action while learning about the science, engineering and creativity behind flight.
"The Museum's mission is to inspire and educate about air and space," said David Tillotson III, director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "The DARPA Lift Challenge fits that education mission. It also encourages people to visit the Museum and learn more about the broader story of air and space."
The Museum's location at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base reflects the Dayton region's long history of aviation research and development.
"Wright Field served as the Army's aviation development center for decades," Tillotson said. "Hosting the DARPA Lift Challenge here continues that tradition of aviation innovation."
Visitors are encouraged to explore the Museum’s galleries as part of their visit. The Museum's more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles trace the evolution of military aviation, while the Research and Development Gallery and other exhibits include aircraft and technologies associated with DARPA programs.
“The aircraft you’ll see in this competition range from highly refined engineering projects to radically new approaches that challenge conventional thinking about vertical lift systems,” said Phillip “Donna” Smith, DARPA Lift Challenge program manager. “This competition is about more than developing better drones; it’s about reimagining how our society thinks about aerial mobility.”
Whether visitors come to watch the Lift Challenge, experience Flite Fest or explore the Museum's galleries, the week offers an opportunity to see firsthand how aviation continues to evolve—from the Wright brothers' first practical airplane to the next step in aviation development.
Admission to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, public viewing of the DARPA Lift Challenge, and spectator admission to Flite Fest are free.
Pilot Passes are required only for those participating in Flite Fest flying activities. During the Lift Challenge, spectators will view the competition from designated public areas, with live footage from the flight course shown on large video screens. Because the flying activities take place outdoors, schedules and activities are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. The latest schedule and visitor information are available at the museum's website www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
About the DARPA Lift Challenge
The DARPA Lift Challenge is a prize competition designed to accelerate innovation in heavy vertical-lift unmanned aircraft. The competition challenges teams to demonstrate aircraft capable of carrying payloads significantly greater than their own weight, advancing technologies with potential military and civilian applications.
About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day), the Museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world come to the Museum. For more information or to plan your visit, go to www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
