Pipistrel Sport Plane Wins NASA Challenge | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Aug 13, 2007

Pipistrel Sport Plane Wins NASA Challenge

Short-Wing Virus Collects Most Of $250K In Prize Money

A slightly modified Pipistrel Virus motorglider collected the majority of $250,000 in prize money awarded this weekend by NASA, in a competition aimed at bringing small aircraft to the masses.

With the support of NASA, the CAFE Foundation held a race this weekend for personal aircraft vehicles (PAVs) at Charles Schultz Sonoma County Airport in California. Four teams competed in six categories, reports C-Net: speed, short takeoff, efficiency, handling, noise, and best overall.

The Virus -- built in Slovenia, recently approved for US operations by the FAA, and available for base price of about $70,000 -- took top honors, winning the $100,000 grand prize... as well as best short-field takeoff, and for most efficient aircraft. Pilot Michael Coates called the Virus "the Prius of airplanes" -- as it can go as fast as 170 mph, while getting 50 miles per gallon.

As for speediest aircraft tested, a Vans RV-4 collected that $25,000 prize. The highly-modified aircraft also collected another $50,000 for being the quietest plane tested of all entrants.

"The RV-4 had a large number of modifications to achieve the lower noise, and they did an enormous amount to flight testing with noise meters to become masters of low noise flight," said NASA aerospace engineer Mark Moore.

A team flying the erstwhile Cessna 172 collected $25,000 for best-handling aircraft... perhaps not surprising, considering it was the only Part 23 aircraft in a field of sport planes.

"The results make sense -- the Cessna 172 is the most successful (and highest production volume small aircraft) precisely for the reason that the handling qualities are so good," said Moore.

As part of its Centennial Challenge program, NASA has staked $2 million for five PAV races.

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

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.11.25: New FAA Boss, New NASA Boss (Kinda), WB57s Over TX

Also: ANOTHER Illegal Drone, KidVenture Educational Activities, Record Launches, TSA v Shoes The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a ne>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 07.03.25: Sonex HW, BlackShape Gabriel, PRA Fly-In 25

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Rick Kenin New Board Chair of VAI

30-Year USCG Veteran Aviator Focusing On Member Benefits The Vertical Aviation International Board of Directors announced its new leadership officers in April, and all began their >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC