LEAP is pleased to announce the first annual Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft to be awarded at the NASA Green Flight Challenge at Charles M. Schulz airport in Santa Rosa California!  We believe this prize addresses one of the most critical issues facing aviation today - noise. General aviation is losing its critical infrastructure (airports) at an alarming rate and noise is one of the biggest reasons. Thanks to a generous donation from Jeannie Schulz we are pleased to offer a $10,000 prize purse to go with this award. As a witness to the birth of the electric aircraft industry, watching the Berblinger competition flights in Germany this April and now the NASA Green Flight Challenge (with the largest aviation cash prize in history) it is easy to look into the near future and imagine how electric aircraft have the potential to change the way we travel. Simpler, easier to fly and maintain, cheaper… renewable energy… these benefits all address another critical issue facing general aviation – cost. If we can lower the cost barrier to flying it will go a long way toward revitalizing general aviation. The first company to produce a certified two seat electric aircraft with a 1.5 hour range will dominate the aviation training market. Is that company here? In Europe? China? Not sure, but it sure is fun to watch these visionary designers as they are creating the future of flight, and I cant wait to fly one! -Erik

NASA GFC Pipistrel takeoff