Boeing and SAE 2017 AeroTech Congress and Exhibition launched GoFly contest, which encourages innovators from various fields, including engineers, students, academicians and amateurs, to try and create real aircraft and make a real personal flights. The prizes worth 2 million USD will be granted to the most innovative teams.
The GoFly contestants need to develop a personal aircraft that can be used by anyone and anywhere. It should be safe, ultra-compact, quiet, suitable for operation in urban conditions, and also capable of transporting a person up to 20 miles without refueling or recharging. In addition, the device should be suitable for vertical or near vertical take-off and landing. Participants are encouraged to make the most of the latest achievements in the field of power plants, energy, lightweight materials, as well as systems of stability and controllability.
GoFly will provide teams with the support of experienced experts in design, engineering, finance, law and marketing, but the design and functionality of the device will be thought out by the contestants.
“Perhaps there is no dream more global than a person’s dream of flying. GoFly plans to make this dream a reality”, said the general manager of the GoFly contest, Gwen Lighter. “It’s a call to use innovation to explore the unknown and overcome new heights”, added he.
“The GoFly contest award will inspire people around the world to change the world with the help of modern aerospace developments”, said the CEO of Boeing Technology, Greg Hyslop. “We are looking forward to seeing how progressive and far-sighted specialists will cope with this ambitious and fascinating task”, added he.
Registration for participation in the first stage of the competition is open until April 4, 2018, and registration for the second stage is December 8, 2018.
