Following up on the earlier announcement that Pratt & Whitney has joined main sponsor Boeing as a supporter, the GoFly competition held a brief event on Tuesday at the United Technologies Farnborough Airshow chalet (Outdoor Exhibit 4). Representatives from both sponsor companies displayed the passion for the project that their companies are backing with their checkbooks—Boeing has committed $2 million; P&W, $100,000, so far. The mission is to use teamwork to design and build a personal flying device that can lift off vertically and safely carry a person for 20 miles without refueling or recharging.
The big stars of the show were three members of UK-based “Team Leap,” organized by team leader Bruno Howard and one of 10 winners of Phase 1, $20,000 awards for its Vantage five-rotor flying bike design. With a degree in mechanical engineering and experience in the field of venture capital, Howard met up with the other members of the team on a GoFly online forum. Also at the event were team members Jakob Howard (no relation), who is responsible for integrating the Vantage’s hybrid-electric powerplant and rotor drive system; and Nikhil Aggarwal, in charge of structural design.
