GE Aviation Will Sponsor The Day-Long Event

A full-day World Symposium on Electric Aircraft has been scheduled for Friday, July 30, during AirVenture 2010 at Wittman Field in Oshkosh, WI. Sponsored by GE Aviation Systems, the symposium will feature several influential industry leaders discussing electric propulsion aircraft in an open forum, offering what they envision is the future for this rapidly growing flight segment that is attracting the attention of scientists, engineers, manufacturers, and investors.

GE Aviation Systems says the symposium is part of its commitment to advancing electric flight. The company has agreed to sponsor the World Symposium on Electric Aircraft as well as the Aviation Learning Center, which will host a week full of activities devoted to the emerging era of electric-powered flight.

"We're really excited about this electric aircraft partnership with EAA," said Chet Fuller, GE Aviation Systems president and scheduled speaker for the World Symposium on Electric Aircraft. "We believe the path to electric flight is through fundamental technologies, and the research and development GE is doing within those technologies include generation, distribution, energy storage and platform-level load management."

Among the confirmed participants for the symposium are Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, Electric Aircraft Corporation founder Randall Fishman, Yuneec founder Tian Yu, Sonex Aircraft founder John Monnett, Earthstar Aircraft founder Mark Beierle, who displayed his eGull ultralight aircraft at AirVenture 2009, and commercial pilot and flight instructor Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.

Daily themed forums will be held at the Aviation Learning Center presented by GE Aviation Systems on safety and airframes; motors, fuel cells, and propulsion; advanced batteries and controls; and regulations.
The week will conclude with working sessions on Saturday, July 31.

Airplane concepts and active prototypes will be on display throughout the week, capped off by with special flight demonstrations to showcase these aircraft.

FMI: www.eaa.org. www.ge.com