Google And NASA Team Up For Green Flight Challenge

Google loves a good challenge. So does NASA.

Turning aviation green is quite the challenge.

Google is joining NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency Foundation (CAFE) in sponsoring the Green Flight Challenge -- a competition to develop cleaner air travel.

Contestants must demonstrate that their aircraft can fly 200 passengers over a distance of 200 miles, in less than two hours, using the energy equivalent of just one gallon of gas or less per occupant. Aircraft may be propelled by a variety of clean technology, including batteries, electric motors, bio-fuel solutions or hybrid engines.

Volume is a key issue to consider, as they must keep the aircraft's noise down to under 78 decibels at full power.

The total prize purse is $1.65 million, the biggest amount in civil aviation history.

The Green Flight Challenge will run from September 25th to October 2nd at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California.

On October 3rd, the public will get a chance to see the competing aircraft at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California.

With the aviation sector responsible for two percent of the world's carbon emissions, according to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this competition couldn't have come at a better time.

A study recently ranked the carbon efficiency of popular airlines, with the CEO of Brighter Planet stating, "Businesses and individuals don’t necessarily have to cut out air travel or spend more time and money to be more environmentally sensitive, they just need better carbon intelligence.” In June, the U.S. demanded that their airlines be exempt from greenhouse gas penalties per a European Union law extending carbon permits to aviation.

This isn't the first time Google's taken up a green transportation initiative.

The company first launched its clean G-fleet electric vehicles in 2007 and later unveiled the largest corporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country.

Comments

[DanSc]

01:08 PM on 08/05/2011

A battery powered airplane may be the worst idea ever. In case anyone doesn't know, batteries are extremely heavy, and don't get any lighter over the course of a journey.

[ThinkCreeps]

06:58 PM on 08/06/2011

Entirely battery-powered, I very much agree, but there is a possible niche for hybrid-boosted power, using a few minutes of extra power for takeoff to augment smaller, lighter engines that are better optimized for cruising.

Kerosene is an excellent fuel for planes. Relatively dense, relatively safe, and with an excellent energy density.

[DMSmith]

03:33 AM on 08/05/2011

We need more of this. There will be many possible discoveries or inventions that can and should improve our efficiency. We need much more of this.

[Minolta321]

01:06 AM on 08/05/2011

Is this the same NASA that acknowledged it had fudged it's global warming data and refused to turn it over saying that it can't be trusted.

Is it any wonder the global warming thing is suspect? When NASA fakes the data for politically correct reasons you know the game is rigged.

[beckjr2000]

02:25 PM on 08/05/2011

Yes but think of how it improved Arab Self Esteem! I understand that the Manned Space Center is being converted into a Goat and Camel Petting Zoo.

[Iccarus]

11:07 AM on 08/06/2011

False