Originally published on Carbon Footprint, Freedom Flight Prize.
London, UK. 1st September 2020: Sustainability expert Carbon Footprint Ltd carbonfootprint.com has launched the world’s first Freedom Flight Prize freedomflightprize.org. The competition is open to manufacturers, research/academic groups and inventors to design and fly a 100+ seater passenger aircraft powered by 100% renewable energy. The plane must complete a return trip from London to New York; each leg of the trip in under 10 hours and must finish the return leg within 24 hours of starting out on the round trip. The first to complete this historic flight will win the Freedom Flight Prize, which is expected to be in the £millions by the time the prize is won.
The Freedom Flight Prize gives anyone the opportunity to support and encourage this historic venture freedomflightprize.org/sponsors. Businesses, organizations, philanthropists and the general public are being urged to get involved and support the legacy-forming project through different promotion, sponsorship and donation opportunities.
Said John Buckley, MD of Carbon Footprint Ltd, Aerospace Engineer and founder of the Freedom Flight Prize,
This is the revolution that I have been waiting my whole career for – the Freedom Flight Prize puts 100% renewable flights right in the spotlight in order to address the climate emergency we face. The Prize does not accept the compromise that long haul travel produces a high carbon footprint – in fact it recognizes that the technologies to power flights solely on sustainable renewable energy are available. We anticipate that the Freedom Flight Prize will propel the travel industry to deliver on the needs of the people and the planet.”
About Freedom Flight Prize:
Freedom Flight Prize awards and recognises the 1st truly renewable energy powered 100+ seater return flight across the Atlantic. The Prize was conceived and is being led by Carbon Footprint Ltd, the climate change solution business carbonfootprint.com
Fly a passenger aircraft, capable of carrying 100 or more passengers, on 100% renewable energy between London and New York* in under 10 hours and be able to “refuel” and fly back to land at London* within 24 hours.
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Must be powered 100% by renewable energy (e.g. Electricity generated by solar, wind or hydro power; hydrogen made by electrolysis using renewable energy).
Note: Aircraft using bio-fuels and synthetic aviation fuels are excluded from this Prize. -
Must be able to carry at least 100 passengers.
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Must be able to fly each leg in under 10 hours.
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Must be non-stop – without the need to land to refuel between London and New York.
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Must land back at London* within 24 hours of originally leaving for New York*.
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The aircraft must meet the current safety standards in the US and UK and have complied with current approval processes for such a demonstration / test flight.
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Participants must be registered with the Freedom Flight Prize before completing the historic flight.
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A representative of Carbon Footprint Ltd must be on-board the aircraft to validate the legitimacy of the flight.
The first person, company or team to do this will be awarded the Freedom Flight Prize Fund and take their rightful place in aviation history.
The Small Print…
Carbon Footprint Ltd holds the right to update the rules from time to time. This may include clarifications and corrections, but will never change the ultimate goal of the Freedom Flight Prize which is enabling zero carbon aviation.
*Airports must be within a 50 mile radius of these cities. The route can also be the other way round i.e. New York to London to New York.
Who can enter?
Climate change solutions are welcome from anywhere, so we encourage innovators, traditional aircraft manufacturers, academics, entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers to participate from around the world. If you believe you can build a team to design and develop an aircraft that can meet the rules of the Freedom Flight Prize then you can participate.
Judging panel
A Judging Panel will be formed from one or more of the following fields:
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Climate Change
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Aviation
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Renewable Energy
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Science
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Engineering
Images courtesy of Freedom Flight Prize, Carbon Footprint,