On the recordOctober 6, 2011
The future of electric aviation is upon us in the Centre region of Pennsylvania. Pipistrel and Pipistrel USA, an aviation company in State College, Pennsylvania, won first place in NASA's Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency Green Flight Challenge, which took first place September 25 at Charles Santa Rosa, California. Sponsored by Google, the Green Flight Challenge was created to advance aviation fuel efficiency technologies. Fourteen teams registered and collectively invested more than $4 million in the challenge. The winning aircraft had to fly 200 miles in less than 2 hours and use less than 1 gallon of fuel per occupant, or the equivalent in electricity, and would be awarded a $1.35 million grant. Pipistrel USA's aircraft achieved twice this requirement, flying 200 miles using just over a half-gallon of fuel equivalent per passenger. The team was led by Dr. Jack Langelaan, assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State University, and supported by engineers and faculty from numerous departments, local area aviation businesses and facilities. It truly was a team effort. I want to congratulate Pipistrel USA, Penn State, and all those involved in this project for their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. ____________________
