Electric Flight Visionaries, Technical Applications Highlight
Two-Day Event
As part of its commitment to advancing electric flight and
aviation innovation, GE Aviation will sponsor the World Symposium
on Electric Aircraft for the second consecutive year at EAA
AirVenture 2011, which (in case you'd forgotten) will be held
July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
Open and free to AirVenture attendees, the second annual World
Symposium on Electric Aircraft sponsored by GE Aviation is
scheduled for Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30. The two-day
event 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.
"Electric power systems and technologies are taking on more
importance in the aviation industry, and GE Aviation is delighted
to play a leading role in this exciting growing field,” said
Dr. Dale Carlson, GE Aviation’s executive for Advanced Engine
Systems and a speaker at the Symposium. “A highly reliable
all-electric aircraft on par with today’s aircraft still
poses many challenges, but the challenges are balanced by the many
potential benefits such an aircraft would provide for a cleaner,
efficient mode of transportation.”
Forums on Friday, July 29, will feature visionaries of electric
flight, while applications of technology will be discussed on
Saturday, July 30. A full schedule of presentation topics is
available online.
In addition to Carlson, among the confirmed participants for the
symposium are keynote speaker Sergei Sikorsky, son of aerospace
pioneer and Sikorsky Aircraft founder Igor Sikorsky; Rep. Sam
Graves (R-Missouri); Dorenda Baker, FAA Director of Aircraft
Certification Service; Dr. Don Hillebrand, director of Center for
Transportation Research at Argonne National Laboratory; Calin
Gologan, PC-Aero president; Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at
NASA Langley Research Center; Dr. Abas Goodarzi, U.S. Hybrid
president; as well as commercial pilot and flight instructor Erik
Lindbergh, grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.
Registration for the World Symposium on Electric Aircraft is
required and can be done
online. Forums on Friday, July 29, will be held at the
Eagle Hangar located inside the EAA AirVenture Museum, while
presentations on Saturday, July 30, will be held at the Nature
Center Pavilion on the AirVenture grounds.
Additionally, daily themed forums will be held at the EAA
Innovation Center 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 30.
Airplane concepts and active prototypes will be on display
throughout the week capped off by special flight demonstrations to
showcase these aircraft.