Objective 
Build a plane and catapult system to launch your plane the farthest distance. Hand fly a plane. Enter 1 or both.  REGISTER HERE 

Brief Description
The idea is simple: build a plane (fuselage, wings and a tail), release it from your catapult (throws the plane using potential energy), and compete to see who can fly the longest. It can't be too big, it can't be too expensive, and it can't be too dangerous - the rest is up to you and your imagination! New this year is a hand fly paper airplane contest, perfect your design before and then use our materials to make your plane. Engineering can take on many forms and our prizes reflect those challenges. Cash prizes include distance flown, creative engineering, creative design for both plane and catapult. Read the full entry rules below.

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Important Dates

Submissions  - Submit your entries by March 1, 2026

Final Photo- April 3, 2026

Competition -  Finals held April 11, 2026 at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

Grade Level
4th Grade- 9th grade

Special Offer- have our Mission Control Bus come to your location and teach an aircraft design class to inspire your students for the competition. 

Categories

• Distance – Prizes awarded in each category for the plane that floats the longest (planes may not shed or release any components once released).
  • Catapult Distance
  • Hand Fly Distance
• Creativity – What was it about your design that was new, special, or original? Prizes awarded for creative thinking, even if your system doesn't go the distance. 
  • Creativity in Engineering for Catapult
  • Creativity in Engineering for Plane
  • Creativity in Design

Entry Rules

Your Plane AND Catapult:

1. Must be original.
   • No model kits, pre-made planes/ catapults, etc.
   • 3D printed parts should make up no more than 20% of the overall design.
   • Legos/K'Nex/other construction kits cannot make up more than 50% of your design.
   • Only 30% of your designs can be premade items (examples propellor, pencil, etc..)
2. Must be safe.
   • No flames, liquefied gasses, chemicals or compressed air.
   • The vehicle cannot potentially cause harm to judges or spectators.
   • No metal tipped items (arrows, darts)
3. May not use an electrical or chemical power source.
   • Balloons, springs, and rubber bands are allowed.
   • No item may be intentionally shed from your vehicle. Should part of your vehicle fall off during flight, it will be up to judge discretion whether your entry advances.
4. Must meet all size restrictions.
   • Your plane including wings may not measure more than 24 in x 24 in x 12 in must be at least 6 in x 6 in x 10 in
   • The plane has a minimum weight of 0.75 ounces and a max weight of 5 oz
   • The catapult may be 24 in x 24 in x 12 in. The catapult may not include a built in table. 
   • A box will be provided and the plane and catapult (separately) need to fit in the box. 
   • Launching will be at a maximum of 48 inches off the ground. Table height is 36 in.
   • Balloons/parachutes/etc. may not extend more than 12 inches from the plane while in flight.
   • Fins/propellers cannot: Raise the height of your vehicle by more than 4 inches or extend more than 12 inches from any other side of the vehicle

COMPETITION PROCEDURES

1. Students will check in on the day of the competition, then have their plane and catapult checked for size and the plane checked for weight.
   • All teams will need to be finalized on who is on the team 2 weeks out from the competition. No changing members after numbers are assigned to the teams. 
2. Students will talk to the judges to defend their choices and talk up their designs.
3. One student representative from the team must release their own plane from their catapult, unless it is physically impossible or unsafe to do so. A 6 ft table will be provided to set the catapult. Planes will need to be launched parallel (straight ahead) to the floor and not up in the air as a parabola.  
   • Each team will launch their planes 3 times and the longest flight will be recorded. The planes will be launched in rounds so minor repairs (that do not affect the size or weight) can be made if necessary.
4. Hand Throwing Competition
   • Students will use Museum provided materials (see below) to build the airplane.
   • The elbow of the person launching will rest on a stool that will be at a height of 4 feet from the ground. The elbow will stay in contact with the stool at all times.
   • 3 rounds will be conducted and the longest flight will be recorded. No repairs permitted except broken paper clips being replaced.
   • Materials porivded will be 24 lb paper, scotch tape, Crayloa construction paper, scissors, and 50mm, 33mm, and 28mm paper clips
5. Repairs will be timed, max of 4 minutes. Timing will be at the discretion of the judges.
6. We love creative ideas, and we understand that the rules listed above may not cover every possibility that innovative student minds might come up with. We’re hoping, in fact, that students are so creative that they will come up with ideas that have never occurred to us! The judging committee will evaluate every plane and catapult from a safety and originality point of view. We reserve the right to amend the above specifications to ensure the safety of all participants and encourage you to contact us during your design process if you are unsure whether your design would be allowed.
7. We reserve the option to keep and display your entries in the museum and/or other venues, including online. We would love to show off your success!

PRIZES
(Note: Only 1 prize per team)
Distance: Catapult

• 1st place distance: $600
• 2nd place distance: $450
• 3rd place distance: $300

Distance Hand Throw 

• 1st place  distance $300
• 2nd place distance $200
• 3rd place distance $100
• 4th place distance $75

Creativity

• In Engineering Plane (3 prizes $300 each)
• In Engineering Catapult (3 prizes $300 each)
• Creativity in Design: 3 prizes of $300 each
• Hand Fly judges pick of plane 1 prize $150

Teacher/ Student Help
Teachers can request a mentorship to help establish a new program. A staff member will be assigned to help answer questions, get material grants for students.

Special offer- have our Mission Control Bus come to your location and teach an aircraft design class to inspire your students for the competition. 

Students- we are offering a limited amount of $50 grants to buy/obtain materials to build their planes and catapults. Grant applications will be available once the student has an approved blueprint.

COMPETITION TIMELINE

Stage 1: Gather your crew
Form a team with one to five students and one adult coach. 
Note: your coach can be a teacher, a parent, or another adult in a role of responsibility, but their job is to help support your ideas and ensure safety, NOT to create your system for you. 

Stage 2: Design your Launch System
Submit your initial design to us no later than MIDNIGHT PST on March 1, 2026.  
Each student can only be on one team, and only one design can be submitted per team. Coaches may supervise more than one team.
Each submission must include the following:

1. A blueprint of your design including plane and catapult. 
   • All measurements need to be labeled with units (i.e. inches or centimeters)
   • All parts of your vehicle should be labeled with intended materials and intended function. Please say exact material and not shorthand for your class/teacher.
   • This drawing can be no bigger than one side of an 11x17 sheet of paper
   • First and Last name of each student in the group.
2. An itemized budget for your items (we want to see creativity, not just the team with the most money) 
   • An entry should not cost more than $50 in parts, maximum.
   • If items are donated or already in your possession, an estimated value should be placed on them.
   • Tip: Using recycled or scrapped items may be a way to keep your costs down.

   1. Your entry can be submitted via our online form or mailed to the SDASM Education Department, 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101, and must be postmarked by March 1, 2026.

      Please make sure you keep the original and send us a copy. We cannot be held responsible for entries lost in the mail, or not received via email.

      REGISTER YOUR ENTRY HERE

      ** If you are having problems submitting your blueprint and budget:

      1. Check your spam folder for the submission link

   2.  If you still can't find it, email your blueprint and budget to education@sdasm.org

      • Please make sure to still fill out the online entry form above by MIDNIGHT, March 1, 2026. Entries that are having technical difficulties with blueprint submission will not be penalized. 

Stage 3: Practice your Hand Launch Plane

Research paper airplane designs and practice folding them. Test them and see what minor modifications make it fly straighter and farther. Limit yourself to the materials listed above. Test throwing with your elbow planted on a table or stool at 4 feet.

Stage 4: Build Your Launch System
Teams will be notified of their entry status by March 7, 2026. Only build when you get the approval.
Gather your materials, with your coach watching, build your plane and catapult. Make sure to test it along the way.
If you need help, you will then have the opportunity (at your request) to talk to our experts. They may be able to provide advice on modifying your vehicle. This contact must be made via the competition organizers, and not directly with the experts.

Stage 5: Snap a Picture

    Take a Picture of your plane and catapult and submit here by April 3, 2026. Our goal is to ensure planes and catapults are in the size and weight realm and to see if anything looks usafe.

Stage 6: Competition
Finals will be held on April 11, 2026 at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Please feel free to contact the contest coordinator, by clicking here, with any further questions or clarifications.

Good luck, and happy engineering!