NASA's Ames Research Center issued the following news release:
The public will get an opportunity to view eight electric, biofueled and hybrid-powered aircraft up close on Oct. 3, 2011, at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The event highlights the Google Green Flight Challenge Exposition hosted by NASA. Exposition visitors also will see who may have won $1.65 million in NASA prize money available for the winner of the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google. The purse is the largest aviation prize ever offered.
NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation of Santa Rosa, Calif., will hold the exposition from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. PDT, with an awards ceremony streamed on NASA Television at noon PDT.
The exposition is a follow-on event to the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1. NASA's Centennial Challenges Program is providing the prize money to the winners of the competition. The competition attracted 13 teams, led by American innovators. Five of those teams successfully completed aircraft and flight qualification requirements and will compete for the prize purse. The teams will fly to prove they have the most fuel-efficient small aircraft in the world.
At the Ames exposition, those aircraft and more will be available for public viewing, with flying demonstrations in the afternoon. To attend the exposition, reporters should contact Janet Anderson at [email protected] or David Steitz at [email protected] to arrange for media credentials. Members of the public can reserve free tickets for the exposition at:
The competition's goal is to advance technologies in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with cleaner renewable fuels and electric aircraft. To win the competition, an aircraft must fly 200 miles in less than two hours and use less than one gallon of fuel per occupant, or the equivalent in electricity. If more than one aircraft meets the criteria, first place will be awarded to teams with the best combination of speed and efficiency. The fuel efficiency competition is on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and the speed competition is on Thursday, Sept. 29. Aircraft will be on public display at the airport following the competition on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT. No registration is required for public admission to the airport on Oct. 1. To attend airport challenge events, reporters must contact CAFE's Jo Dempsey at [email protected]
The CAFE Foundation advances the understanding of personal aircraft through technology research, flight testing, analysis and education. CAFE has developed award-winning flight test equipment and software recognized across the aviation industry. For more information about the CAFE Foundation and the Green Flight Challenge, visit:
NASA's Centennial Challenges promote technical innovation through a novel program of prize competitions. The challenges are designed to tap the nation's ingenuity to make revolutionary advances in technology of value to NASA and the nation. For more information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/challenges
NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) in Washington and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manage the prize program. For more information about OCT, visit:
Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google supports the development and deployment of clean energy through a variety of initiatives. For more information, visit:
Contact: Karen Jenvey, 650/604-4789, [email protected]
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