saini flyer
Well-Known Member
Here is a compiled list of all groups/aircrafts at GFC website: The 2011 CAFE Green Flight Challenge
In MY OPINION, none of the aircrafts in the competition have any relevance for improving the deteriorating health of GA except one. Most are gliders with wing span as long as 75 ft. Pipistrel, being a very progressive company has a wingspan of 69 ft even tough they have announced a four seat plane (Panthera) based on the same electric propulsion system they are using in their GFC challenger. It is so frustrating that after the press conference and award ceremony, these one of a kind aircrafts will go to museums/novelty piece collectors except one who plans to fly all around the country.
How are these airplanes going to become GA's flagship advertiser? The single seaters are good but how do you take a young eagle up in the air with them? How do you get someone who is not a pilot interested in flying if you cant have a passenger seat. The number of pilots 20 years back (or was it 30) have dwindled down to 50% today and going down!
I think if you read the GFC document and it's goal, everyone of the contenders is out there to somehow fit in the rules (somewhat like loopholes) than work towards the true vision. I don't know if Mcginnis is going to make it at GFC or not but I sure hope his synergy aircraft and it's advanced design wakes up the old school guys!
Even after a $1.6 million event the safe, reliable, inexpensive, speedy cross country A/C with VTOL/STOL characteristics will be missing excluding Synergy. Folks, look closely, I just see one man standing out of the thirteen and I am scared he might not be able to make it to the finish line on time.
In MY OPINION, none of the aircrafts in the competition have any relevance for improving the deteriorating health of GA except one. Most are gliders with wing span as long as 75 ft. Pipistrel, being a very progressive company has a wingspan of 69 ft even tough they have announced a four seat plane (Panthera) based on the same electric propulsion system they are using in their GFC challenger. It is so frustrating that after the press conference and award ceremony, these one of a kind aircrafts will go to museums/novelty piece collectors except one who plans to fly all around the country.
How are these airplanes going to become GA's flagship advertiser? The single seaters are good but how do you take a young eagle up in the air with them? How do you get someone who is not a pilot interested in flying if you cant have a passenger seat. The number of pilots 20 years back (or was it 30) have dwindled down to 50% today and going down!
I think if you read the GFC document and it's goal, everyone of the contenders is out there to somehow fit in the rules (somewhat like loopholes) than work towards the true vision. I don't know if Mcginnis is going to make it at GFC or not but I sure hope his synergy aircraft and it's advanced design wakes up the old school guys!
Even after a $1.6 million event the safe, reliable, inexpensive, speedy cross country A/C with VTOL/STOL characteristics will be missing excluding Synergy. Folks, look closely, I just see one man standing out of the thirteen and I am scared he might not be able to make it to the finish line on time.
