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]