Leaders
The official board tells you what was lifted, not when — and the broadcasts are seven-hour VODs with no chapters. Same board, same figures, plus one column: the moment each record happens on video. Open a row for the evidence behind it.
01 Avidrone Inc. 29 lb112 lb3.84:1in aug 6 · 9:10:32
On screen at that moment — vehicle 29.3 lb · payload 112.4 lb · ratio 3.84:1. Matched on payload + ratio.
Other televised runs with weights
- Thu Aug 6 · 9:34 AM ET payload 112.4 lb · ratio 3.84:1
- Thu Aug 6 · 9:44 AM ET payload 112.4 lb · ratio 3.84:1
In the 15-lane grid
- Thu Aug 6 · lane 01 · 9:25 AM–10:34 AM ET · 69m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 01 · 2:42 PM–3:37 PM ET · 55m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 01 · 2:02 PM–2:36 PM ET · 34m
Away from the broadcast
- “Avidrone is now in 1st place” — 29.3 lb drone, 112.4 lb payload (3.84:1), course in 19:17@Hunter_Weiss · 6 Aug 2026 · somebody else'sA clip of the record run itself, cut from the broadcast and posted while the day was still going.
- “Competing in the DARPA LIFT Challenge with Katana, Avidrone’s new heavy-lift uncrewed aircraft system”Avidrone Aerospace Incorporated · 4 Aug 2026 · the team's ownThe team’s only post about the challenge, and the only place the aircraft is named. Stills, no video.
- Avidrone 210TL Sub 55lb Automated DemoAVIDRONE Aerospace Inc · February 2021 · the team's own · not this challengeNot this challenge — an earlier tandem-rotor aircraft, flown under the same sub-55 lb limit Lift uses.
02 Xtreme Aerial Concepts 55 lb167 lb3.04:1in aug 5 · 11:48:12
On screen at that moment — vehicle 54.9 lb · payload 166.9 lb · ratio 3.04:1. Matched on payload + ratio.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 11:08 AM ET payload 141.9 lb · ratio 2.58:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 11:28 AM ET payload 141.9 lb · ratio 2.58:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 12:07 PM ET payload 166.9 lb · ratio 3.04:1
In the 15-lane grid
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 15 · 1:19 PM–3:11 PM ET · 112m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 15 · 11:02 AM–12:38 PM ET · 96m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 15 · 12:54 PM–1:14 PM ET · 20m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 15 · 12:06 PM–12:09 PM ET · 3m
Away from the broadcast
- JAKADOFSKY Turboshaft — Max POWER for DARPA LIFTJakadofsky Jet Engines · March 2026 · the team's ownThe custom turboshaft built for this entry, run up on the test stand. Jakadofsky Jet Engines is named as part of the team in DARPA's own bio.
- Why I Think Helicopters Will Win the DARPA Lift CompetitionBird Half-Baked · 6 August 2026 · somebody else'sAn argument that a helicopter takes this, with this team's entry pulled up on screen around 7:50 as the example.
03 MacGyver 55 lb137 lb2.51:1in aug 4 · 9:16–10:46
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
04 H-Squared 55 lb127 lb2.32:1in aug 5 · 9:23:12
On screen at that moment — vehicle 54.6 lb · payload 126.9 lb · ratio 2.32:1. Matched on payload + ratio.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:24 AM ET payload 126.9 lb · ratio 2.32:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:43 AM ET payload 126.9 lb · ratio 2.32:1
In the 15-lane grid
Chasers
01 DefendTex 12 lb112 lb9.63:1in aug 4 · 2:02–3:37
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
Other televised runs with weights
- Thu Aug 6 · 9:23 AM ET payload 2.4 lb · ratio 0.19:1
- Thu Aug 6 · 9:44 AM ET payload 57.4 lb · ratio 4.45:1
- Thu Aug 6 · 9:53 AM ET payload 57.4 lb · ratio 4.45:1
- Thu Aug 6 · 10:14 AM ET payload 112.4 lb · ratio 8.71:1
In the 15-lane grid
02 MTech Operations LLC 32 lb112 lb3.46:1in aug 5 · 11:45:42
On screen at that moment — vehicle 32.4 lb · payload 111.9 lb · ratio 3.45:1. Matched on payload + ratio.
In the 15-lane grid
03 Capstone AirLift Systems 43 lb112 lb2.62:1in aug 5 · 2:38:17
On screen at that moment — vehicle 42.9 lb · payload 112.4 lb · ratio 2.62:1. Matched on payload + ratio.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:14 PM ET payload 47.4 lb · ratio 1.14:1
In the 15-lane grid
04 Mimino 46 lb117 lb2.56:1in aug 4 · 9:30–10:46
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
05 Advanced Vertical Flight Laboratory 44 lb112 lb2.55:1in aug 5 · 9:31–10:05
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:22 AM ET payload 111.9 lb · ratio 2.4:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:24 AM ET payload 111.9 lb · ratio 2.4:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 10:14 AM ET payload 111.9 lb · ratio 2.4:1
In the 15-lane grid
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 13 · 9:31 AM–10:05 AM ET · 34m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 13 · 2:05 PM–2:29 PM ET · 24m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 13 · 2:53 PM–3:10 PM ET · 17m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 13 · 10:12 AM–10:28 AM ET · 16m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 13 · 4:09 PM–4:21 PM ET · 12m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 13 · 9:05 AM–9:17 AM ET · 12m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 13 · 5:09 PM–5:16 PM ET · 7m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 13 · 2:44 PM–2:48 PM ET · 4m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 13 · 5:31 PM–5:35 PM ET · 4m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 13 · 9:22 AM–9:26 AM ET · 4m
Away from the broadcast
- 550-pound Quiet eVTOL UASMoble Benedict · March 2026 · the team's own · not this challengeThe channel of the lab's director at Texas A&M, where roughly thirty of the lab's aircraft are flown. This is the nearest thing to their lift work.
- Quad Cyclocopter DemoTAMU AVFL · 2023 · the team's own · not this challengeThe lab's own channel, and its best-known aircraft.
06 Dronesmith 52 lb112 lb2.16:1in aug 5 · 9:08–9:55
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:35 AM ET payload 57.4 lb · ratio 1.09:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 9:47 AM ET payload 57.4 lb · ratio 1.09:1
In the 15-lane grid
07 InSky 52 lb112 lb2.14:1in aug 6 · 9:24–10:34
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
- Thu Aug 6 · lane 02 · 9:24 AM–10:34 AM ET · 70m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 02 · 2:13 PM–2:57 PM ET · 44m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 02 · 3:02 PM–3:37 PM ET · 35m
Away from the broadcast
- InSky — Drones, not toys.InSky Aero · October 2025 · the team's own · not this challengeTheir heavy-lift VTOL platform, from the Miami company behind the entry.
- InSky Bike piloted flight.InSky Aero · 2024 · the team's own · not this challengeA person flying their eVTOL bike. The only other video they have posted.
08 Advanced Tactical Lift Aircraft System 55 lb112 lb2.06:1in aug 5 · 9:05–10:31
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
09 Driftless Robotics 51 lb47 lb0.92:1in aug 5 · 2:27–3:33
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
Other televised runs with weights
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:27 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:35 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:36 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:36 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:48 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
- Wed Aug 5 · 2:57 PM ET payload 1.9 lb · ratio 0.03:1
In the 15-lane grid
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 03 · 2:27 PM–3:33 PM ET · 66m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 03 · 11:37 AM–12:28 PM ET · 51m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 03 · 2:03 PM–2:22 PM ET · 19m
Away from the broadcast
- "A whirlwind of emotions this past week" — from the hangar at Dayton@driftlessrobotics · 6 August 2026 · the team's ownFilmed mid-competition, announcing their Thursday 11am ET flight window.
- "We will be competing in the DARPA Lift Challenge" — the aircraft, before travelling@driftlessrobotics · 2 August 2026 · the team's ownTheir announcement post; the first slide is video of the aircraft.
No longer on the board
DARPA has removed these 7 teams from the official standings as the field tightened. They are kept here because the video behind their runs still stands — they are not part of the current standings.
10 APTOS AERO 30 lb2 lb0.06:1delisted aug 4 · 9:28–10:21
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 04 · 9:28 AM–10:21 AM ET · 53m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 04 · 10:33 AM–10:46 AM ET · 13m
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 04 · 11:04 AM–11:06 AM ET · 2m
Away from the broadcast
- Aptos BlueA2 CAL · 2021 · the team's own · not this challengeThe air-ambulance eVTOL by the engineer who entered as APTOS AERO. His old studio domain now redirects to the team's.
- A2CAL — APTOS BLUERoyal Aeronautical Society · 2021 · a conference talk · not this challengeThe same design presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society.
11 Mohyi Labs 33 lb2 lb0.06:1delisted aug 4 · 9:16–10:46
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
- Tue Aug 4 · lane 06 · 9:16 AM–10:46 AM ET · 90m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 06 · 9:27 AM–10:31 AM ET · 64m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 06 · 2:24 PM–3:11 PM ET · 47m
- Wed Aug 5 · lane 06 · 9:05 AM–9:22 AM ET · 17m
- Mon Aug 3 · lane 06 · 2:03 PM–2:19 PM ET · 16m
Away from the broadcast
- Mohyi LabsMichigan Creative · 2017 · somebody else's · not this challengeA profile of the bladeless-impeller idea the team is still building on. The only video anyone has made about them.
12 Ragin' Cajuns Drone Team 44 lb2 lb0.06:1delisted aug 5 · 11:23:57
On screen — vehicle 44.4 lb · payload 2.4 lb · ratio 0.05:1. That reads 0.05:1, not the 0.06:1 on the board, so this is a neighbouring attempt and not the record itself.
In the 15-lane grid
13 Dmaterial 38 lb2 lb0.05:1delisted aug 4 · 9:16–10:46
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
Away from the broadcast
- First Inflatable Heavy Lift Drone Competing in the DARPA Lift ChallengeAaron Dallek · 5 August 2026 · the team's ownPosted by Dmaterial's co-founder. The inflatable airframe flying: a 2 lb 10 oz frame, 54 lb empty, carrying 120 lb.
- Our Inflatable Heavy Lift Drone Crashed From 20 Feet. The Frame Survived. Flying 110 lb Tomorrow.Aaron Dallek · 6 August 2026 · the team's ownThe crash, at the event, and the frame walking away from it.
14 CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES 51 lb2 lb0.05:1delisted aug 5 · 11:14–12:38
No telemetry frame reproduced these numbers. Located by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
15 Virginia Tech DARPA Lift Team 46 lb2 lb0.04:1delisted aug 4 · 2:06–3:15
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
16 RockSolid Team 2 54 lb2 lb0.03:1delisted aug 3 · 1:13–3:11
The Monday and Tuesday feeds carry no weight columns, so no frame can reproduce this record. Located instead by the team name in the lane banner.
In the 15-lane grid
Off the board
The standings hold 13 of the 100 teams DARPA accepted. Several of the other 81 filmed their whole campaign — the build, the test stand, the crash, the hangars at Dayton — and that footage shows what a fixed camera on a lane never can.
An FPV-drone YouTuber who entered as a team and filmed the whole build. The most-watched account of the challenge by anyone, DARPA included, and the only one that also walks the hangars on site.
- I'm building a drone for the DARPA lift challengeJuly 2026The build, start to finish. 444k views.
- I'm still building a drone for the DARPA Lift Challenge28 July 2026177k views.
- An inside look at the DARPA Lift Challenge5 August 2026Inside the hangars at Dayton, past other teams' aircraft.
- Drone crash at the DARPA Lift Challenge5 August 2026
- Drone on fire at the DARPA Lift Challenge5 August 2026
A solo entry by an Army veteran and graduate student who published the build as a five-part series, from first sketch to prototype flights.
- Meet Vitruvius, a DARPA Lift Challenge contenderFebruary 2026The reveal.
- I'm Building a Heavy-Lift Drone for the DARPA Lift Challenge… from ScratchMarch 2026
- Building Vitruvius: Engineering | PCB Fabrication Pro TipsMarch 2026
- Building Vitruvius: Prototype Test FlightsMarch 2026
- DARPA Lift Challenge: One Month Until FlightJuly 2026
Entered twice, as Alpha and Omega. Posting from Dayton as it happened — including a fall from 100 feet and a small fire, then flying again the next day.
- Birra1A: Free Flight Yaw Test #26 August 2026Flying again the day after the fall and the fire.
- Birra1: Free Flight Slow Yaw Test5 August 2026The 8-metre-span aircraft on site.
- Ultra Heavy Lift Animation5 August 2026
The solo entry of a freelance aerospace engineer whose earlier work includes Maryland's human-powered helicopter and Makani's airborne wind turbine.
- Skyweaver: DARPA Lift Challenge4 August 2026The only video on the channel.
A family business building rotor systems for extreme weights on electric propulsion.
- RotorWings Do a Lap (DARPA Lift Challenge)2 August 2026Their aircraft carrying 55 lb round a lap.
A one-person composites shop run by an engineer who has built structures for space vehicles.
A hybrid parafoil-prop aircraft from a nonprofit that delivers cargo to remote solar minigrids in Africa.
Eight researchers at Florida Atlantic's Center for Connected Autonomy and AI, building an autonomous tilt-rotor.
- FAU CA-AI DARPA Lift ChallengeJuly 2026
These say on camera that they are competing, but the name they use does not appear on DARPA's roster, so they cannot be tied to an entry with any confidence.
- Building THE Drone for the DARPA Heavy Lift ChallengeCharles Yang · 4 August 2026A 55 lb tilt-rotor called BUS, lifting 135 lb.
- DARPA Lift Challenge 2026. SHRIKE Heavy Lift Drone.Drone Power Concepts · July 2026Carbon fibre and 3D print, signing off “see you in Dayton”.
- I too am building a drone for the #darpaliftchallengePeter Sripol · 2 August 2026A large RC channel based in Dayton. The roster has a team called APRAD described as “a bunch of YouTubers and engineers” in Dayton, which fits, but nothing confirms it.
- DARPA offers $6.5MM for "impossible" heavy-lift challengeJoshua Bardwell · July 2026Made with DARPA, on the biggest FPV channel there is.
- Why is DARPA Opening This $6.5M Drone Challenge to the Public?Civil Defense Engineer · December 2025The largest outside analysis of why the rules are set the way they are.
Both feeds carry machine-readable data burned into the picture, and both are livestreams — so video time maps straight onto wall-clock ET.
- The main broadcast shows a telemetry strip: lane, team, run time, speed, vehicle lb, payload lb, ratio — the exact leaderboard fields. Where those numbers reproduce a record, the moment is pinned to the second.
- The 15-lane grid puts the team name in every lane banner all day, which gives complete coverage of who flew where even when no numbers were shown.
- The catch: only Wednesday Aug 5 renders the weight columns. On Mon and Tue that screen area reads “full broadcast begins Thursday” — a record set on those days has its numbers nowhere on screen, so the best available answer is the lane and the window.
Read a timestamp as the moment the figures were on screen. Broadcast telemetry updates live during a run, so the aircraft is usually already flying when you land there.
A few teams filmed themselves, and that footage shows things the broadcast never does — a workshop, a crash, an engine on a test stand. Rows carrying a mark have some; open the row to find it. Teams were traced through DARPA’s own roster, because several compete under a name that is unsearchable on its own. Most of the field posted nothing at all, and those rows say nothing rather than guess.
