2008 Competition Offers $300,000 In Prizes

The folks at the CAFE Foundation told ANN this week a $1000 early bird discount for registration into NASA's 2008 General Aviation Technology Challenge will end February 14... adding all LSA teams, both factory and private owners, planning on competing in the August 2008 competition in Santa Rosa, CA should get details and register as soon as possible.

Part of NASA's General Aviation Technology Challenge, the competing light-sport aircraft teams will gain national attention and be helping NASA and the CAFE Foundation advance the safety, utility and performance of personal air vehicles. CAFE's volunteers are dedicated to enormously growing the popularity of LSAs through this highly educational and fun event.

As ANN reported, last year a slightly-modified Pipistrel Virus motorglider (type shown below) collected the majority of $250,000 in prize money awarded by NASA, in the competition aimed at bringing small aircraft to the masses.

Prizes of interest this year to top performing LSAs include:

• The $50,000 Aviation Safety Prize (handling, smart auto-pilot)
• The $150,000 Community Noise Prize
• The $50,000 Green Prize
• The $10,000 "Quietest LSA" prize
• The $3,750 Shortest Takeoff Prize
• The $3,750 Best Angle of Climb Prize
• The $3,750 Best Glide Prize
• The $3,750 Quietest Cabin Prize

For 2008, NASA and the CAFE Foundation have recast the PAV Challenge, with many enhancements. The official name of the flight competition is the General Aviation Technology Challenge. Its $300,000 prize purse, funded by NASA, is to be distributed amongst several key prizes, including the first ever "Green Prize" for transportation.

Organizers believe the competition will be crucially important in the revitalization of general aviation and the advancement of its role in sustainable mobility. The "Pentaviathon" aims to advance five vital General Aviation Technologies: noise reduction, fuel efficiency, speed, safety and ease of use.

FMI: http://cafefoundation.org/v2/pav_home.php