This weeks video is a highlight reel from the NASA Green Flight Challenge.
The challenge is aimed at encouraging the development of electric aircraft. The toital prize money for the event
was $1.65 million and was partly sponsored by Google.The challengers flew
fromCharles M. Schultz Airport at Santa Rosa, California.
Two main days of competition included an efficiency flight and a speed
flight. For the efficiency competition the aircraft flew a set course, averaging
at least 86 knots and the equivalent of 173 nm per gallon while trying to use
the least amount of energy. For the speed flight the aircraft flew a 173 nm
course as fast as possible while maintaining the economy average.Aircraft needed
to land with at least 30 minutes of power left and all flights were done with
two people on board.
Initially, 10 aircraft entered the event, but that was whittled down to leave just five.to fight it out. Embry-Riddle University's aircraft used a conventional engine for take-off and then an electric motor for cruise. The other planes in the competition included the all electric e-Genius from Germany, the all-electric Pipistrel Taurus G4 entered by State College in Pennsylvania and the petrol-powered Phoenix from Florida.The top prize was awarded on 3 October to the Pipistrel team.