Congratulations to the 2024 Rookie Project Winners!
2024 was another great year in the evolution of the Rookie Project. Lots of activites took place in schools, clubs, and organised through national aero clubs. An update for 2025 will see two new classes, aimed at encouraging youngsters to let their imaginations loose and design their own aircraft!
What is The Rookie Project?
Each year, young pilots under 16 years old fly a "Rookie" model (a type of micro capacitator powered model aircraft) that fits the specific rules. With their model, they learn how to fly for longer and longer distances, and they can enter the Rookie competition with their longest flight time.
The young pilots must be able to launch the aircraft themself but must also have the supervision of an adult to officially time their flight. The final results for the year are shown on our Rankings page.
Rookie Winners 2024
At the top of the rankings in 2024 were two 8-year old pilots! From the indoor class, Maxence G from France clinched a win, flying for 26 seconds. In the outdoor class Julia Q of Sweden managed an amazing flight of 135 seconds, surpassing the second place competitor by 45 seconds. Congratulations to the winners and all the youngsters who participated in the competitions.
Besides those who competed were also many other children who experienced the thrill of practical flying, thanks to the activities arranged by different organisers.
2025 competition: new developments
The 2025 Rookie competition is now open. For this year, we will continue to fly the old classes in both indoor and outdoor categories, with the original Rookie rules. You can compete of course with the Rookie model kit, but also your own designs which must fit the rules.
New for 2025 is the introduction of two new classes, to encourage pilots to create their own designs, and to use 3D printers and develop their programming skills, the first step on the road to designing new aircraft:
- Open class: with the "Open class" participants can use the original Rookie drivetrain, or own parts that fits the parametres of this drivetrain, and design your own model and fly an indoor or an outdoor competition. Click to view Open class rules.
- 3D Printed class: designed to encourage the development of 3D printed models. Participants can use the original Rookie drivetrain, or their own parts that fit the parametres of this drivetrain, then design and print a model for this indoor or outdoor event.
Click to view 3D Printed class rules. - Original Rookie Drivetrain
Don't hesitate to take a tour of the Rookie Project website and check out the 2025 updates.
Per Findahl, FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) Education SubCommittee Chair encouraged clubs, leaders and teachers to embrace the STEM opportunities in the Rookie Project and run a workshop to encourage young people to enter the competition: "With the introduction of these two classes we hope to see lots of good looking new aircraft and bags of creativity! Get ready to build and fly with the kids and help introduce new young pilots to the magic of flight! We look forward to receiving scores for the online competitions. As usual at the end of the year we will send out certificates to the winners and Aviation Toys will sponsor some of the prizes."
