Google sponsors $1.65 million NASA Green Flight Challenge
Eric Loveday
Aug 2nd 2011 at 2:45PM
The CAFE Foundation has announced that Google will sponsor the NASA Centennial Challenge flight competition known as the Green Flight Challenge (GFC). The CAFE Foundation (which here stands for Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency) will host the event from September 25 through October 2, 2011 at Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport in California. The NASA-funded prize purse of $1.65 million is the largest ever for a non-spaceflight aviation challenge, according to CAFE.
Competing aircraft must demonstrate the ability to hit at least 100 miles per hour and return the equivalent of 200 miles per gallon of gasoline during a lengthy 200-mile flight. The aircraft that are set to compete in the Green Flight Challenge include a diverse mix of prototypes created exclusively for the competition by some of the world's most renowned designers. Most of the aircraft will be powered by batteries and electric motors, some by biofuels or hybrid propulsion systems. In addition to the main prize, the competition includes a biofuel category award and a Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft.
All competing aircraft will be on display for the public to see at the Google Green Flight Challenge Exposition at NASA's Moffett Field – Ames Research Center in California on October 3, 2011. Tickets for this expo will soon be available here. Hat tip to Brien!
[Source: CAFE Foundation]
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Google to Sponsor Green Flight Challenge
Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google to bring historic firsts to aviation
Aviation's largest ever prize to be awarded at Moffett Field October 3 during exposition hosted by NASA
SANTA ROSA, CA (July 29, 2011) – The CAFE Foundation announced today that Google will sponsor the NASA Centennial Challenge flight competition known as the Green Flight Challenge (GFC). CAFE (Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency) will conduct the event from September 25 through October 2, 2011 at Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport. The NASA-funded prize purse of $1.65M makes this the largest ever prize for aviation. Competing aircraft must demonstrate at least 100 mph and 200 passenger MPG on a 200 mile flight. The aircraft in the Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google represent a diverse mix of singular prototypes created expressly for the competition by some of the world's top designers. Most will be propelled by batteries and electric motors, some by bio-fuel or hybrid. All competing aircraft will be shown to the public at the Google Green Flight Challenge Exposition hosted by NASA at Moffett Field–NASA Ames Research Center, from 9 AM to 4 PM on October 3, 2011. Advance online ticketing for this exposition will soon be available at http://cafefoundation.org/v2/gfc_main.php. In addition to the main prizes for highest scores, the competition includes a bio-fuel prize and plans for a special Lindbergh Prize for Quietest aircraft, to be presented by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of the renowned winner of aviation's Orteig Prize, Charles Lindbergh.
Practical Emission-free flight
The electric aircraft in the competition will demonstrate for the first time that practical, emission-free cross-country flight is possible. Their batteries will be recharged using clean geo-thermal based electricity from The Geysers geo-thermal fields in the Mayacama Mountains North of Santa Rosa. This recharging will occur at the CAFE Flight Test Center's first-ever Electric Aircraft Charging Station sponsored by Google.
Next Step in Personal Mobility
In addition to the sleek aircraft of the GFC, the Google Green Flight Challenge Exposition will include exhibits of many technologies related to the future of green aviation. These will range from vertical takeoff personal aircraft, autonomous vehicles, fast prototyping equipment, advanced motors, propellers and more.
About CAFE Foundation, Inc.
The non-profit 501 c3 CAFE Foundation has a 30 year history of flight testing and research on small experimental aircraft.
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