Create an Eco-Plane, Win $1.5 million!
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Whoever said a “green” flight would never be possible, clearly underestimated the power of NASA.
That’s right; NASA is sponsoring a competition which will be run by their light-aircraft collaborator organization: the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation. Known as the CAFE Green Flight Challenge, this competition will pit green aircraft designers against one another to come up with low-carbon flying machines. Participants have until July 2011, in which their completed aircrafts will be assessed and tested in flight trials at the Charles M Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California.
Some companies are already working to put eco-planes up into the great, blue yonder. Researchers at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have been developing an Eco Flying Saucer that is designed to reduce noise and release 50% less carbon dioxide per passenger mile. Solar Flight is working on a solar powered plane (of course); with a battery that can be fully charged by the sun in 90 minutes, and the ability to function as a glider on a cloudy day. And others are slowly working at getting themselves on the radar.
If you want to enter the competition or read about the rules, check out this file (in .pdf format) for more information.
Good luck!
By Heidi Marshall
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