Jack May
2007-08-05 19:52:55 UTC
Initial step to eliminate mass transit (airlines) in the sky along with
reducing congestion.
http://news.com.com/Can+personal+aircraft+beat+gridlock/2100-11397_3-6200787.html
The Cafe Foundation, a nonprofit group of flight test engineers, on Saturday
will kick off its first NASA-sponsored contest of personal aircraft
vehicles, or PAVs, which is being held at the Charles Schultz Sonoma County
Airport in California.
The goal of the challenge will be to test the fuel efficiency and speed of
PAVs--high-tech two-seater planes--so they could one day serve as a more
economical, environmentally friendly way for people to get around and
circumvent auto gridlock.
It has staked a total of $2 million for the five annual PAV challenges
The idea is that these small planes, with built-in GPS and terrain mapping,
could take people within a few miles of their doorstep (landing on short
airstrips) at a faster clip, expelling less fuel.
People would be able to get a license to fly PAVs as easily as a driver's
license, and they could fly them with the help of a computerized control
system and "synthetic vision," or technology that supplies a moving 3D view
of the world even when flying in total fog.
"The PAV Efficiency Prize will be awarded to the aircraft with the lowest
trip cost," according to the foundation, which will factor in trip speed and
fuel cost over a 400-mile closed course
In this competition, contestants will run their PAVs on aviation fuel. But
Seeley said some contestants for next year's competition are already working
on PAVs that run on alternative energy sources such as batteries or fuels
like biodiesel, made from vegetable oil. (A biodiesel PAV could go 900 miles
on 25 gallons, for example.)
reducing congestion.
http://news.com.com/Can+personal+aircraft+beat+gridlock/2100-11397_3-6200787.html
The Cafe Foundation, a nonprofit group of flight test engineers, on Saturday
will kick off its first NASA-sponsored contest of personal aircraft
vehicles, or PAVs, which is being held at the Charles Schultz Sonoma County
Airport in California.
The goal of the challenge will be to test the fuel efficiency and speed of
PAVs--high-tech two-seater planes--so they could one day serve as a more
economical, environmentally friendly way for people to get around and
circumvent auto gridlock.
It has staked a total of $2 million for the five annual PAV challenges
The idea is that these small planes, with built-in GPS and terrain mapping,
could take people within a few miles of their doorstep (landing on short
airstrips) at a faster clip, expelling less fuel.
People would be able to get a license to fly PAVs as easily as a driver's
license, and they could fly them with the help of a computerized control
system and "synthetic vision," or technology that supplies a moving 3D view
of the world even when flying in total fog.
"The PAV Efficiency Prize will be awarded to the aircraft with the lowest
trip cost," according to the foundation, which will factor in trip speed and
fuel cost over a 400-mile closed course
In this competition, contestants will run their PAVs on aviation fuel. But
Seeley said some contestants for next year's competition are already working
on PAVs that run on alternative energy sources such as batteries or fuels
like biodiesel, made from vegetable oil. (A biodiesel PAV could go 900 miles
on 25 gallons, for example.)