Future Flight Science Fair - National Science Week 2026

Hey team!

As part of National Science Week, we're putting on a full-day fair celebrating the future of flight and showcasing the fantastic eVTOL Student Team.

An eVTOL is an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft, often called an autonomous air taxi.

These aircraft will be an extremely versatile new form of transportation in the near future, capable of flying autonomously from Maroochydore to Brisbane in just 20 minutes (and totally avoiding the Bruce!).

Together with the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, and the Queensland Government, the MEF has been developing our very own eVTOL with the support and commitment of more than 50 students since August 2023.

Our full-scale aircraft will seat one person and can fly at speeds of over 250 km/h, for distances of more than 200 km, at altitudes of up to 3,000 ft. It will be capable of taking off and landing on a helipad and will be built primarily from carbon fibre composites, along with aerospace-grade aluminium, titanium, glass, and a small amount of steel.

There's a lot involved in building an eVTOL—from design and structural engineering to electronics, motors, batteries, computer vision, and much more.

We've built two sub-scale models (at 12:1 and 6:1), which we've been developing and flying since the project began, along with a virtual reality experience that lets visitors see what it's like to fly one. We'll also have large-scale display models and plenty more to explore.

Our amazing students and industry mentors will be showcasing all of this on the day. Visitors will also have the chance to design, 3D print, and launch their own glider, experience a six-degree-of-freedom flight simulator, and enjoy many more hands-on activities.

There will also be plenty of food, drinks, ice cream, and fun! 🚀

It's a free, family-friendly event that's perfect for kids and adults alike. Our goal is to raise awareness of the local aviation and advanced manufacturing industries, inspire interest in STEM careers, and provide a fun, educational community event celebrating Australian innovation.

Please tell your friends—we hope to see you there!

The MEFSC Team