3 January 2023
A 1,000nm four-day cross-country race for electric aircraft ending near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina – birthplace of powered aviation – is planned for May 2023.
The event, the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race, is being staged by the US National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and is a resumption of the Pulitzer air races from the early 1920s. The winner will be awarded the Pulitzer Trophy.
The race will be open to piloted aerodynes of all types using zero-emission electric propulsion: fixed wing aeroplanes, helicopters, or multi-rotor eVTOL Advanced Air Mobility vehicles.
The race will be a day Visual Flight Rules (VFR) event to allow for the many aircraft still in development stages.
Will Bye Aerospace be tempted to enter its two-seat electric aircraft?
The race winner will be the pilot/crew with the fastest speed calculated from the cumulative flight time, not including time on the ground for maintenance, charging, or overnight stays.
“The cross-country format, rather than a closed-circuit speed event, was selected to emphasise electric aircraft range and reliability, in addition to speed, in a realistic operating environment,” said a statement from the NAA.
“A cross-country race will require careful logistical planning from the race teams and highlight different electric propulsion technology choices and operational strategies such as rapid battery charging, whole battery changes, and solar power augmentation to extend range.
“As a long distance, multi-day cross-country event open to all classes and types of electric aircraft, we have designed the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race to provide an open canvas for design innovations and be a flying expo for the electric aviation industry.”
Registration for entries into the race have opened here.
