Sat, Jul 30, 2011
The Seventh Lindbergh Prize For Electric Aircraft Focuses On
The Vision For Integrated Electric Power
Today at the World Electric Aircraft Symposium at EAA’s
AirVenture, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the 2011
AirVenture winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft.
LEAP’s programs recognize, inspire and incentivize the
innovation that drives our culture, economy and future. The LEAP
Electric Flight Program is accelerating the development of the
electric aircraft industry through a range of activities, from
prizes to advocacy.
This year LEAP chose to focus on a different aspect of electric
aircraft propulsion than past Lindbergh Prizes by awarding a Vision
Award. The Award focuses on innovation with a “vision”
for integrated electric power for an aircraft and its supporting
infrastructure. Having a complete plan for energy management is the
key to widespread adoption of electric propulsion. PC-Aero is the
winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision Award
for their integration of Solar World’s solar technology into
their Electra One aircraft and the supporting hanger. Their vision
is for the energy from the rooftop solar cells to not only provide
power to the aircraft but also the hanger itself and excess energy
to feed back to the power grid.
“This is an electrifying time,” said Erik Lindbergh
(pictured). “Visionaries are taking risks. The field is alive
with novel approaches and rich in activity and experimentation.
With continued intellectual and financial investments, great
opportunity exists for technological advancements that could apply
well beyond electric aircraft.”
Past winners of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft
include:
-Pipistrel: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Best Electric
Aircraft
-LZ Design: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Best Electric Propulsion
System
-Solar Impulse: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Outstanding Achievement
Award
-Yuneec International: 2010 AirVenture Best Electric Aircraft
-Sonex: 2010 AirVenture Best Electric Aircraft Subsystem
-Lange Aviation: 2010 AirVenture Individual Achievement Award
LEAP is grateful to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for its continuing
support of the LEAP Electric Flight Program. The heritage of the
collaboration between the Lindbergh and Sikorsky families continues
to shape the future of flight.
“Aviation provides a terrific community to foster the
great innovators of the future,” said Chris Van Buiten,
Director, Sikorsky Innovations. “The LEAP organization shares
our enthusiasm for exploring exciting and creative solutions that
will transform our industry, and we applaud Erik’s efforts to
raise awareness and educate today’s students who are our
future engineers, designers and inventors.”
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