At the World Electric Aircraft Symposium at EAA AirVenture, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the 2011 AirVenture winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft.

LEAP’s programs recognize, inspire and incentivize the innovation that drives our culture, economy and future. The LEAP Electric Flight Program is accelerating the development of the electric aircraft industry through a range of activities, from prizes to advocacy.

This year LEAP chose to focus on a different aspect of electric aircraft propulsion than past Lindbergh Prizes by awarding a Vision Award. The Award focuses on innovation with a vision for integrated electric power for an aircraft and its supporting infrastructure. Having a complete plan for energy management is the key to widespread adoption of electric propulsion.

PC-Aero is the winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision Award for their integration of Solar World’s solar technology into their Electra One aircraft and the supporting hanger. Their vision is for the energy from the rooftop solar cells to not only provide power to the aircraft but also the hanger itself and excess energy to feed back to the power grid.

“This is an electrifying time,” said Erik Lindbergh. “Visionaries are taking risks. The field is alive with novel approaches and rich in activity and experimentation. With continued intellectual and financial investments, great opportunity exists for technological advancements that could apply well beyond electric aircraft.””

Past winners of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft include:

1. Pipistrel: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Best Electric Aircraft
2. LZ Design: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Best Electric Propulsion System
3. Solar Impulse: 2011 Aero-Friedrichshafen Outstanding Achievement Award
4. Yuneec International: 2010 AirVenture Best Electric Aircraft
5. Sonex: 2010 AirVenture Best Electric Aircraft Subsystem
6. Lange Aviation: 2010 AirVenture Individual Achievement Award

LEAP is grateful to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for its continuing support of the LEAP Electric Flight Program. The heritage of the collaboration between the Lindbergh and Sikorsky families continues to shape the future of flight.

“Aviation provides a terrific community to foster the great innovators of the future,” said Chris Van Buiten, Director, Sikorsky Innovations. “The LEAP organization shares our enthusiasm for exploring exciting and creative solutions that will transform our industry, and we applaud Erik’s efforts to raise awareness and educate today ‘s students who are our future engineers, designers and inventors.””

About LEAP
LEAP’s mission is to stimulate innovation for a resilient future. LEAP’s vision is a world in which people are empowered and engaged, and have the curiosity, creativity and confidence to solve problems in a collaborative way. Inspired by the legacy and determination of Erik’s grandfather Charles Lindbergh, the X PRIZE Foundation and pioneers throughout history, LEAP was founded to accelerate a new era in aviation and stimulate the ingenuity of modern innovators. LEAP does this through video showcasing, international events, prize philanthropy and its education nonprofit.

About Sikorsky Innovations
Sikorsky Innovations is the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. It is an agile, networked group of Sikorsky employees and industry teammates dedicated to demonstrating innovative technology solutions to the toughest problems in vertical flight. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).