We are going to make that dream a reality. We challenge you to make people fly.
The GoFly Prize offered a $1,000,000 Grand Prize to create a personal flying device that is safe, useful, and thrilling.
The goal of the GoFly Prize is to foster the development of safe, quiet, ultra-compact, near-VTOL personal flying devices capable of flying twenty miles while carrying a single person.
What we are seeking is an “everyone” personal flying device, capable of being flown by ANYONE, ANYWHERE. It should be a device for ALL: young and old, city-dweller and country-dweller, expert and novice.
Now is the time. Recent advances in propulsion, energy, light-weight materials, and control and stability systems have combined to produce a moment of achievable innovation. What can be accomplished today could not have been attained even a few years ago. Technological and scientific advances have resulted in a time when our most audacious dream—the dream of pure human flight—is now achievable.
GoFly is about flying people, not flying taxis. Today we look to the sky and say “that plane is flying.” We challenge you to create a device where we look to the sky and say, “that person is flying.” The device is for a single person, but what it looks like or how it works is up to you. We welcome revolutionary design, and while all devices must be able to fly a person, you have the option to use a mannequin to simulate the user and can operate the device as a remotely piloted or autonomous UAV. The device should function safely in both crowded cities and rural areas; it should be lightweight and maneuverable enough so that anyone can move it around, and it should be quiet not only for the user, but also for the general public. We are propulsion agnostic, but like all great inventions, the device should be user-friendly--almost an extension of the user’s body, and provide the thrill of flight.
The GoFly Prize is designed to capture our imagination. Indeed, throughout human history, perhaps no dream has been more shared than that of soaring in the skies. It has been pursued by the greatest minds from every corner of the world. It captivated the thoughts of Leonardo Da Vinci, culminating in hisornithopter.It consumed the thoughts of Wendell Moore and his Bell Labs team, resulting in the first “jet pack.” It charmed an entire generation of children as they followed the chronicles of Superman.
Our goal is the same as Da Vinci’s and children of wonder throughout the ages: Make people fly – safely and effortlessly.
Ready… set… GoFly.
PRIZE PURSE
The GoFly Prize Competition will award a $1,000,000 Grand Prize and additional early round prize money over three phases.
Prizes will be awarded for each phase of the Competition as follows:
Phase I
Up to ten $20,000 prizes awarded based on a written report.
Phase II
Up to five $50,000 prizes awarded based on revised Phase I material (or for new teams new Phase II material) and demonstrated performance of progress to date.
Phase III
One $1,000,000 Grand Prize awarded for the best overall fly-off score.
One $100,000 prize, the Pratt & Whitney Disruptor Prize, awarded for disruptive advancement of the state of the art.
A complete set of Technical Rules can be found here.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Teams will keep all of their intellectual property, except that Teams will grant limited media rights to GoFly so that GoFly can publicize and promote the Competition and the Teams. The details relating to media rights are addressed in the Phase I Competition Agreement and the Media Rights Agreement. Other than these media rights, any rights a Team has in its inventions, drawings, patents, designs, copyrights and other intellectual property remain with the Team.
The prize submission information that Teams provide to GoFly as part of the Competition will only be shared with the Judging Panel and representatives of GoFly who are involved in administering the Competition. Anyone who has access to a Team’s confidential prize submission information will have signed a confidentiality agreement and agreed not to share or use such confidential information, except as may be required by law. In addition, Teams will not have access to any nonpublic information about other Teams or their technology or performance during the Competition.
INNOVATION INCUBATOR
Even the best and brightest minds can use a little help sometimes. GoFly empowers innovator teams by providing access to experienced Mentors and Masters in design, engineering, finance, law, and marketing. Teams will have the opportunity to listen to and engage in discussions with the Masters of Aerospace and Business in global webinars. Have a couple of questions on conceptual design or configuration management? Looking for insight into cutting edge noise mitigation techniques? Trying to raise funding to support your build? Masters lectures speak to those disciplines and more. Learn from FAA leads, NASA gurus, Boeing Senior Technical Fellows, and the luminaries who actually wrote the textbooks. Hear about the aerospace fundraising landscape, and take a deep dive into financing decks and pitching VCs. Learn how to protect your intellectual property from patent specialists. A list of Masters along with their bios can be found in the Advisors section.
When one-on-one help is needed, all Teams will have access to our Mentor program, where Teams work directly with Mentors in their specific areas of need. Operationally, the Mentor program is organized so that Teams contact GoFly to request a Mentor within a particular discipline. Upon contact, that Team will be matched with a Mentor (or multiple mentors) in that area. During these Mentor sessions, a Team works directly with the Mentor to answer the Team’s specific questions related to their technical build (or financing, or corporate documents, etc.). This is one-on-one support for the Teams, geared to the precise needs of each Team. GoFly believes that providing this type of support is the best way to help aspiring inventors all over the world create the kind of ground-breaking devices that the Competition seeks.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
GoFly believes that solutions can come from anyone, anywhere. Scientists, engineers, academics, entrepreneurs, and other innovators with new ideas from all over the world are invited to form a Team and register to compete. To participate, a Team may organize their own members, recruit additional experts to join them, and can add new members at any time throughout the Competition.
To be eligible to participate in the GoFly Prize, Teams must complete all registration and administration forms, including a short bio for each Team member, certain legal documents, and be accepted by GoFly into the competition.
For more information, see “Eligibility” below.
TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES
The GoFly Prize Competition is a two-year Competition launched on September 26, 2017. There will be three sequential rounds of the Competition.
Phase I
Submission of a written report and preliminary drawing
Phase II
Submission of an updated written report and demonstration of progress in development of the personal flying device
Phase III
Final Fly Off competition and Grand Prize award
A list of important dates is set forth below:
DescriptionDate
Competition Launch and Open of Registration September 26, 2017
Phase I submission deadline April 18, 2018
Phase I awards issued June 14, 2018
Phase II registration deadline December 14, 2018
Phase II submission deadline February 6, 2019
Phase II awards and Phase III Fly Off invitations begin to be issued March 26, 2019
Phase III Fly Off planning review and Registration deadline October 1, 2019
Fly-Off Planning Review complete January 31, 2020
Final Fly Off February 26-29, 2020
Competition Ends September 26, 2023
Dates and other information are subject to change at the discretion of GoFly. GoFly will post changes on the Competition website to ensure that all registered teams are informed of any change. All submissions must be submitted electronically through the GoFly Competition website.
REGISTRATION AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS
To compete in the GoFly Prize, the participant must be a registered Team that has been approved by GoFly. Note that the information below is only a summary for your convenience. For full details, please refer to the legal documents for each phase referred to below.
PHASE I:
Innovators can compete in Phase I both as Individual Innovators and in groups. To begin the registration process for Phase 1 (the Paper Report phase of the Competition) and be accepted to participate, you must:
Sign the Phase I Competition Agreement
Sign the Release of Liability and Indemnification Agreement
All forms can be found here, and all may be accepted and submitted online.
Submission of the documents will enable access to the Phase I submission form for competing. There is no registration fee, but upon submission of a Team’s Phase I competition entry, there will be a fee of $250 for Individual Innovators or a fee of $500 for Teams with two or more persons.
PHASE II and PHASE III:
There is a big difference between designing on paper and actual building/flying, so the documents involved for the different phases of the GoFly Prize vary as well. In order to proceed from Phase I (the paper, technical specifications phase of the competition) into the actual building (Phases II and III of the Competition), ALL Teams must submit an additional application and be accepted as a Phase II or Phase III Team by GoFly. Under no circumstances should any off-paper work, building or testing take place before a Team is formally admitted into Phase II or Phase III of the GoFly Prize. Should any work be done off-paper before being accepted into Phase II or Phase III in contravention of the foregoing, such work is done entirely outside the scope of the GoFly Prize.
The Phase II and III Application forms will be available in May 2018. Each Phase II and III Team is required to complete the package of legal documents which will govern the Competition, including the following:
Master Team Agreement
Certificate of Insurance (as required by the Master Team Agreement)
Updated Team Release of Liability and Indemnification Agreement
Updated Team Member Release of Liability and Indemnification Agreement
Media Rights Agreement
Participant Equity Agreement, including the Company Questionnaire and the other documents referenced therein.
Of note, Phase II and III Teams must register and participate as legal entities, and not as individuals. See “Eligibility” below for further details.
FOR ALL PHASES OF THE COMPETITION:
Teams must sign all legal documents and comply with all requirements therein to be admitted to the Competition. Once GoFly determines that a Team has complied with all requirements of the legal documents and these Competition Guidelines, it will notify the Team that it is approved for entry into the Competition.
Team shall designate a Team Member to act as “Team Leader”. The Team Leader will be responsible for communicating with GoFly and the Judging Panel. The Team Leader (and all Team members) must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence, if such age is older than 18 years). Team may add and/or remove Team Members at any time through the Team Portal. Team has sole responsibility for adding and removing Team Members.
At registration, each Team must list each individual that is part of the Team, and such list shall include all individuals or entities involved in the design, development, or testing of the Submission, including employees (“Team Members”). All Team Members must register at the Competition website and sign the Phase I Competition Agreement. Team may add and/or remove Team Members at any time through the Team Portal. Team has sole responsibility for adding and removing Team Members.
Teams may revise registration information at any time and are responsible for keeping information up to date. All Teams wishing to continue on to Phase II and III must complete all Phase II and III legal documents by the Phase II and III registration deadline. New teams who have not participated in Phase I or Phase II are still eligible to participate in Phase III by completing registration documents by the Phase III registration deadline.
As part of this Competition, GOFLY may receive some of Team’s and Team Members’ personal information. The collection, use, and disclosure of this information will be governed by GOFLY’s Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy includes several ways to contact GOFLY with questions. By submitting such information, Team agrees that (i) GOFLY may use the personal information collected as described in the Privacy Policy and (ii) GOFLY may disclose such Team’s and Team Members’ contact information and Competition registration information to Boeing, other Competition sponsors, and GoFly affiliates and investors. Team expressly authorizes each of the foregoing to contact Team if Boeing so desires. Teams have the right to access, withdraw, and correct their personal information.
ELIGIBILITY
Phase I Eligibility:
Individual Innovators: The Competition is open to individual Innovators who (a) are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence if it is older than 18), (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Phase I Competition Agreement, and (c) are able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer’s policies or procedures.
Exclusions: Individual Innovators may not be (a) a Boeing employee or a member of any Boeing employee’s immediate family, (b) located in a jurisdiction where participation in the Competition is prohibited or otherwise restricted by law (or an individual with a residence in or who is a national of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan) or (c) subject to export controls or sanctions of the U.S.
Business Entities: The Competition is open to legal entities that wish to compete as a team and (a) are validly formed and in existence under applicable law, (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Phase I Competition Agreement, and (c) are able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations.
Exclusions: Entity Innovators must not have any presence in Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan or be subject to export controls or sanctions of the United States.
Phase II and Phase III Eligibility:
Among other requirements, the Competition is open to business entities that wish to compete as a team and (a) are validly formed and in existence under applicable law, (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Master Team Agreement, (c) have completed the full package of required legal documents, and (d) are able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations.
All Team Members must (a) be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence if it is older than 18), (b) comply fully with all terms and conditions of the Master Team Agreement and all other GoFly legal documents, and (c) be able to participate without violation of any third-party rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer’s policies or procedures.
Exclusions: A Team Member may not be (a) a Boeing employee or a member of any Boeing employee’s immediate family, (b) a Pratt & Whitney employee or a member of any Pratt & Whitney employee’s immediate family, (c) located in a jurisdiction where participation in the Competition is prohibited or otherwise restricted by law (or an individual with a residence in or who is a national of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan) or (d) subject to export controls or sanctions of the U.S.. Additionally, Teams must not have any presence in Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan or be subject to export controls or sanctions of the United States. In all cases, each Team’s legal documents, forms and questionnaires are subject to GoFly’s review and approval.
Each Team’s compliance with these requirements and eligibility for the Competition will be determined by GoFly in its sole discretion. Only Teams meeting all of the eligibility requirements set forth in the Master Team Agreement as determined by GoFly and who are otherwise qualified and accepted by GoFly will be recognized as participants in the Competition.
Each Team must obey all local, national, and international laws in undertaking any activities related to the Competition. Team must fully comply with all applicable laws and acquire all necessary licenses, waivers, and/or permits from the applicable regulatory bodies or other applicable third parties. GoFly is not required to advise Team regarding such legal and regulatory compliance, and GoFly shall have no responsibility for Team’s compliance with laws applicable to Team and disclaims any responsibility for advising on the applicability of laws or regulations applicable to a Team’s participation in the Competition or Team’s compliance therewith. GoFly’s acceptance of Team into the Competition does not constitute approval of Team’s compliance with laws applicable to Team.
TEAM SUBMISSIONS
For each Phase of the Competition, Teams will be required to submit the materials and writings described in these Guidelines (“Submissions”). All Submissions must comply with the following requirements:
Except for purchased or licensed content, any Submission must be original work of Team;
Submission must include only content (including any technical information, algorithms, designs, music, audio, visual or illustrative content, including logos, images, graphics, art, or other content, information, or materials protected any intellectual property right) that Team owns or has proper rights to use;
Team is required to disclose any purchased or licensed content that is part of a Submission.
Submissions must not contain any incomplete, corrupt, damaged, or malicious material;
Submissions must not contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, copyright, trade secret, patent, trademark, publicity or any intellectual property rights;
Submissions must not disparage GoFly, any Competition sponsor, any GoFly affiliate or investor or any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors or employees;
Submissions must not contain material that is inappropriate, offensive, indecent, obscene, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous and must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age; and
Submissions must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of, or contrary to laws or regulations.
JUDGING PANEL
INDEPENDENT JUDGING PANEL
No Judge, nor any member of Judge’s immediate family, shall participate in any team. All members of the Judging Panel will promptly disclose to GoFly any such current, former, or expected future conflict of interest with GoFly, Boeing and/or any Team or Team member.
ROLE OF THE JUDGING PANEL
The duties and responsibilities of the Judging Panel will include, but not be limited to: (i) evaluating teams’ compliance with the Competitors Agreement, these Competition Guidelines, and the Rules and Regulations for the purposes of the Competition; and (ii) the awarding of points and selection of teams that will receive prizes for each phase of the Competition.
GROUNDS FOR JUDGING PANEL DECISIONS
Official decisions made by the Final Round Judging Panel will be approved by a majority of the Judges that vote on such decision after careful consideration of the testing protocols, procedures, guidelines, rules, regulations, criteria, results, and scores set forth in the Master Team Agreement and these Competition Guidelines. If any vote of the Judges results in a tie, then the Judging Panel shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, the mechanism to settle the tie. Similarly, if one or more teams are tied at any stage during the competition, the Judging Panel shall have the sole and absolute discretion to settle the tie.
DECISIONS OF THE JUDGING PANEL ARE FINAL
The Judging Panel shall have sole and absolute discretion: (i) to allocate duties among the Judges; (ii) to determine the degree of accuracy and error rate that is acceptable to the Judging Panel for all competition calculations, measurements, and results, where not specified in the Rules and Regulations; (iii) to determine the methodology used by the Judging Panel to render its decisions; (iv) to declare the winners of the competition; and (v) to award the prize purses and other awards. Decisions of the Judging Panel shall be binding on teams and each team member. Teams agree not to dispute any decision or ruling of the Judging Panel, including decisions regarding the degree of accuracy or error rate of any competition calculations, measurements, and results. Teams shall have no right to observe other teams’ testing or evaluation, or to be informed of other teams’ calculations, measurements, and results, unless such information is made publicly available by GoFly.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND CURRENCY
The official language of the Competition is English. All communications with GoFly must be in English. All references to currency are expressed in United States Dollars (USD).
Guidelines
The $1,000,000 Grand Prize will be awarded to the first officially registered and approved GoFly Team that demonstrates meeting all GoFly Prize criteria and thresholds, as observed and verified by GoFly. GoFly will arrange a formal on-site observation for the Grand Prize in coordination with a Team after the Team has provided compelling evidence to GoFly that they have completed their own independent verification of compliance with all required tasks and measurements.
Process:
Teams will provide their evidence through an online form, formatted as a checklist covering sections 2 and 4.1 of the guidelines where, for each item, the Team will describe the method of demonstrating each requirement and provide the evidence and documentation.
GoFly will coordinate with the Team to choose a suitable demonstration site, with preference given to the site used for the Team’s prior flight demonstrations, though final determination of the location will be made by GoFly in its sole discretion. Note that prior to an on-site observation, Teams must also demonstrate safe and deterministic behavior in the event of lost RF link(s) and/or GNSS fix, as applicable.
As an optional step for Teams, GoFly is available to give feedback regarding acceptability of Teams’ planned means to demonstrate their own independent verification of compliance with all required tasks and measurements before they make a full flight demonstration.
To initiate a review of planned means of demonstration or to gain access to the online form, simply email a link to a full continuous video of a flight of your device meeting all of the following requirements:
20 minutes in-air flight time
Operator/Dummy at full 200 lb weight
At least 6 nmi of ground track covered
At least 30 ktas reached at some point during the flight
Except for registration of new Teams (Teams that did not participate in Phase II or III should email to begin the registration process), there isno action necessary for Teams to take until after Team has completed development of a fully capable device.
Scheduling and prize priority:
GoFly will review submissions in the order in which they are received. However, since some review and resubmission of evidence is to be expected, the order for scheduling an on-site observation will be based on GoFly’s determination regarding when a team has fully demonstrated compliance with all required tasks and measurements with evidence GoFly has deemed compelling. In other words, Teams may submit and complete their review while another Team is in the review and submission process.
GoFly will endeavor to set a firm date for an on-site observation within one month of determining that evidence is compelling, subject to travel restrictions and pandemic precautions. A formal observation will be scheduled for two days only (with acceptable weather conditions). If a Team is unsuccessful at claiming the Grand Prize during the formal observation, the team must restart the process (though data from the formal observation may be used as evidence, so, depending on the reason(s) the team is unsuccessful, the length of the restarted process may vary considerably). During that time, other team observations may occur.
If a Team cancels or postpones the formal demonstration by notifying GoFly at least one week ahead of the planned date, it may be rescheduled as soon as a suitable make-up date can be arranged, though other Team’s formal observations may proceed as planned.
If GoFly must postpone a formal observation, other formal observations may occur but the postponed observation team retains its priority for the prize if a formal observation occurs within 60 days of the original date and the team meets all criteria and thresholds at that observation.
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RULES
The goal of the GoFly Prize is to foster the development of safe, quiet, ultra-compact, near-VTOL personal flying devices capable of flying twenty miles while carrying a single person.
The challenge consists of three progressive payout opportunities beginning in 2017:
Phase I:
Up to ten $20,000 prizes awarded based on a written report.
Phase II:
Up to five $50,000 prizes awarded based on revised Phase I material (or for new teams new Phase I material) and demonstrated performance of progress to date.
Fly-off:
One $1,000,000 Grand Prize awarded for the best compliant overall fly-off score.
One $100,000 prize, the Pratt & Whitney Disruptor Prize, awarded for disruptive advancement of the state of the art.
Fly-off scores for the Grand Prize will be based on highly challenging criteria in the following areas:
Performance, including speed & endurance
The ability to achieve near vertical takeoff and landing
Quietness
Compactness
The experience of open-air flight
What the device looks like or how it works to accomplish the task, and accomplish it safely, is up to you.
1. Schedule and Deliverables
Dates and other information here are subject to change at the discretion of GoFly. GoFly will post changes on the challenge site and ensure that all registered teams are informed of any change. All judging decisions are final.
All materials must be in English and be submitted electronically by the appropriate deadline through the competition website. No exceptions.
1.1. April 18, 2018: Phase I submission deadline
Teams will submit a written report summarizing the project (submission form preview available here). To be eligible to enter a submission for Phase I of the GoFly Prize, competitors must complete all registration and legal forms and pay the submission fee.
Submissions will be scored in the following categories:
50 points Technical content and feasibility
15 points Novel innovation and market considerations
15 points Safety considerations
10 points Project execution feasibility
10 points Organization, clarity, and succinctness
1.2. June 14, 2018: Phase I awards issued
Based on the Phase I submission scores, and at the discretion of the judges, Phase I winners will be announced and prize money issued. The winners will be announced publicly. However, their work will remain private (except for the publicly-releasable graphic).
1.3. December 14, 2018: Phase II registration deadline
Regardless of Phase I participation, all teams must register for Phase II by the Phase II registration deadline. To be eligible to participate in Phase II of the GoFly Prize, teams must complete all registration and legal forms, procure required insurance, and be accepted by GoFly into the competition. A complete list of documents are available at the competition website.
1.4. February 6, 2019: Phase II submission deadline
Teams will submit up-to-date Phase I material (all parts) with the addition of a status report. In addition to the Phase I scoring categories, an additional 50 points will be awarded based on project status and progress to date.
The Phase II submission must also act as sufficient documentary proof that a prototype, demonstrator, or the device itself has flown and successfully performed at a minimum the following maneuvers (tethered and sub-scale testing are acceptable):
Vertical or near-vertical takeoff followed by steady flight out of ground effect
Aborted landing
Vertical or near-vertical landing
1.5. March 26, 2019: Phase II awards and fly-off invitations begin to be issued
Based on the progress to date as exemplified in the Phase II submission, and at the discretion of the judges, Phase II winners will be announced and prize money issued. The winners will be announced publicly. However, their work will remain private (except for the publicly-releasable graphic).
Fly-off participation is by invitation only. GoFly will issue invitations to the Final Fly Off based upon Teams meeting Phase II submission requirements and/or Phase III document requirements, Fly Off document requirements, and adherence to all GoFly Agreements and Rules. There are pre-fly-off requirements such as the prior flight minimums and the fly-off planning review.
1.6. October 1, 2019: Fly-Off Registration and Airworthiness Questionnaire Deadline
Team registration must be complete by this time for new teams that did not participate in Phase II.
To maximize the chances that you will be legally authorized to fly at the fly-off event, by this time (and earlier is required for teams that are already registered) you will need to provide information via a questionnaire related to your device and personnel certifications and pathways used for airworthiness and operations, such as:
What FAA pathway/rules are you using for flight, e.g. section 44807 (formerly section 333) exemption, Part 103, etc.?
Have you been issued or do you anticipate any certifications, authorizations, waivers, or other FAA exemptions?
Device information: Will your device be manned or unmanned? What is the approximate empty weight? What is the make and model? What is the registration number or other identification, if issued?
Pilot information: What is the pilot’s address? What is the pilot’s certificate number and rating, if any?
1.7. January 31, 2020: Fly-off planning review must be complete
An earlier review is recommended to address any discovered issues for follow-up by the deadline. Beginning in November 2019, teams may schedule a fly-off planning review, to be held via video teleconference.
Representative operational experience with your final device is required prior to scheduling a fly-off planning review. Experience operating your device must be in ways representative of tasks you will perform at the fly-off, including flight representative of all of the flight demonstration tasks and other operational aspects such as startup and shutdown procedures.
The fly-off planning review will also require teams to know their detailed procedures for fly-off tasks, such as demonstrating ground transport, reserves, reusability, etc.
1.8. February 26-29, 2020: Final Fly-Off
Teams must have completed the required logged safe prior flight described in section 4.2.3 prior to the fly-off.
Teams must arrive at the fly-off prepared with device, operator, crew, supplies, and support equipment necessary to complete all fly-off tech inspection and flight demonstration tasks.
1.9 Grand Prize still open
The $1,000,000 Grand Prize remains open until September 26, 2023.
2. Fly-Off Tasks and Measurements
The fly-off will consist of two phases: tech inspection and flight demonstration. Various scored and unscored attributes will be measured or validated in each phase. The scored parameters are size, noise, and speed.
2.1. Tech Inspection
Teams must report to tech inspection at the fly-off with their device in flight-ready condition at fully fueled weight.
2.1.1. Conformance
Teams must certify that their entry is one-in-the-same as the device that has been represented to GoFly and other authorities and that has completed the documented and logged testing.
Teams who will fly the flight demonstration unmanned with a dummy instead of a human operator must show that the dummy is not structurally or mechanically integral to the device (beyond the level that a human operator would be) by removing the dummy and exhibiting the operator interface using a human operator.
2.1.2. Size measurement (SIZE)
The scoring parameter for size is the maximum single dimension in any direction between two planes, measured in feet.
The operator is not included.
Non-rigid elements, such as harnesses and straps, are included in their position with a 5’ 9” operator in place.
If the device has more than one configuration used for a normal full flight profile (as demonstrated in the flight demonstration), the measurement is taken for the largest of any non-transient configuration used in flight or on the ground. Components that continuously rotate are treated as a full disc.
2.1.3. Sightlines
The operator field of view is the GoFly metric for the open-air flight experience. A cone with 90° aperture (provided by contest organizers), with the apex at the design eye position (the bridge of the operator's nose while in flight posture), must not intersect or overlap any part of the device other than transparencies that are not primary structure.
The axis of the cone must be within 20 degrees of the operator's line of sight vector. The line of sight must be horizontal and forward-facing for some steady and trimmed flight mode (e.g., hover or cruise), chosen by the team.
Conical keep-out zone illustration. Inner cone represents allowed deviation of axis from line of sight vector.
The operator (with clothing, helmet, etc.) is not included.
The entire swept path of any continuously moving or spinning component is considered opaque.
2.1.4. Ground transport
During tech inspection, teams will be required to demonstrate that the device, unpowered and unoccupied by the operator, can be moved from one ground location to another over a level hard surface. Unpowered ground aides such as dollies are allowed. All tasks required for the ground transport demonstration must be achievable by a single individual. Required lifting (not including carrying) should not exceed 80 lbs; required pushing/pulling should not exceed 50 lbs.
2.2. Flight Demonstration
For the flight demonstration, the device, with full operator (or dummy stand-in) weight, must complete a single flight profile that successfully includes all of the following tasks:
Takeoff and climb without violating the takeoff/landing envelope.
Conduct a speed run of six laps around a 1 nmi course.
Demonstrate the capability to abort a landing by performing a touch & go without violating the takeoff/landing envelope.
After loitering such that total flight demonstration endurance is greater than 20 minutes, descend and land without violating the takeoff/landing envelope.
2.2.1. Takeoff/landing envelope
The takeoff/landing envelope is a 30 foot diameter cylinder. The virtual walls of the envelope are 12 feet high.
Illustration of 30 ft diameter, 12 ft high takeoff/landing envelope
In addition, 2.25” x 3.75” x 8” (nominal dimensions) bricks (available here) will be arranged to define the boundary on the ground. The bricks will be arranged approximately every 24 inches and stood upright to rest on the 2” x 8” side. If, at any time during the flight demonstration, a brick is knocked over by the device, operator, or downwash, the boundary is considered violated.
No part of the boundary may be violated by any part of the device or operator. Violating the boundary during any flight demonstration phase constitutes a failed flight demonstration attempt.
2.2.2. Noise measurement (NOISE)
Sound pressure level will be measured at locations equidistant from the center of the takeoff/landing envelope, corrected to 50 feet. The sound pressure level will be measured and analyzed in decibels relative to 20 micropascals, with A frequency weighting and S time weighting.
The maximum sound level will be determined at each of six measurement locations. The arithmetic mean of the highest three of these values yields a sound level rating.
A sound level rating will be determined during the flight demonstration during takeoff and climb and during descent and landing (not during the touch & go). The higher of the two sound level readings in dBA is the noise score.
2.2.3. Speed measurement (SPEED)
The course is defined by two pylons (physical markers with infinite vertical projections) located 0.5 nmi apart.
A lap involves crossing the start/stop plane in the air, flying around both pylons, and then crossing the start/stop plane again.
Speed run sample course illustration showing start/stop plane and pylons with vertical projections (not to scale).
The 6 nmi nominal length of the course is divided by the total time for the speed run to yield the speed score in units of knots.
The speed run may be flown at any safe altitude out of ground effect (defined as at least 1 x the size measurement at all times). There is no guarantee that the entire course will be obstacle-free at altitudes below 50’ AGL.
2.2.4. Touch & go
The touch & go maneuver must begin and end above 12 ft AGL. Contact with the ground must be inside the takeoff/landing envelope.
Contact with the ground must be only momentary. The device must be designed such that aborting a landing is possible with or without first touching the ground.
2.2.5. Total endurance
The timing for total endurance begins during takeoff at the moment when every part of the device or operator is no longer touching the ground.
The timing stops during landing at touchdown.
A total endurance less than the requirement constitutes a failed flight attempt.
Loitering flight to fulfill the endurance may be flown at any safe altitude out of ground effect.
2.2.6. Reserves
Emergency reserves for an additional ten minutes of flight and a landing will be demonstrated by weighing fuel consumed during the mission and fuel remaining.
Teams with devices that do not significantly change weight consuming energy during a flight must provide a means to demonstrate the full emergency reserve capability.
2.2.7. Harsh operator conditions
To prevent unacceptably harsh conditions for the operator, a contest-provided sensor package may be used during the flight demonstration to ensure that the operator or dummy does not endure extreme sustained g forces greater than 5 g or dangerous impulses from hard landings. Violating these limits during any flight demonstration phase may require repeating some or all of the flight demonstration.
3. Fly-Off Scoring
The final score is a function of the scored parameters as described in the Fly-Off Tasks. From each value, a score factor, θ, is determined, as shown in the following table and figure.
The various score factors are combined to determine the final score as follows:
To be compliant and eligible for the Grand Prize, smallest prize, or quietest prize, each scored parameter must meet the threshold.
4. Additional Requirements
The device must be designed and built to maximize the fly-off score while meeting or exceeding the following specifications.
4.1 General
4.1.1. Fly-off completion
The device must be able to successfully complete all fly-off tasks and judging criteria.
4.1.2. Flying conditions
The density altitude at the fly-off will be no more than 5000 ft. Maximum winds for a flight attempt will be no more than 15 knots (including no more than 5 knot gust factor).
The fly-off will be conducted under day VFR conditions. Low visibility, low ceilings, or precipitation should not be expected. No team will be expected to fly in unacceptable weather.
4.1.3. Unmanned option
The device must be designed to carry a human operator of normal size and weight. However, unmanned flight as a remotely piloted or autonomous UAV is allowed. The “operator” for an unmanned device must be an anthropomorphic test dummy (ATD) defined by 49 CFR part 572, subpart B (50th percentile male) or a GoFly-approved equivalent. Pre-approved equivalents are the Simulaids Rescue Randy models 9000 (with water ballast) and 1436. A dummy may be modified within reason to include necessary avionics and actuators required for remotely piloting the device.
4.1.4. Operator weight
The operator (or ballasted dummy) weight must be 200 lbs or more. This includes clothing, gloves, helmet, personal parachute, other personal protective equipment, contest-provided sensor package, and any necessary operator-carried ballast to achieve the minimum operator weight.
4.1.5. Airworthiness
Teams are responsible for ensuring their device and operator are legally allowed to fly and are not in conflict with any FAA or other regulations both during testing and practice and at the fly-off.
4.1.6. Single unit
The device must remain a single unit throughout operation. No add-on, detachable, or disposable launch/landing aides are allowed.
4.1.7. Energy sources
Refueling or recharging of the device must utilize readily available and safe sources. Approved energy sources are electricity, automotive fuels, and aviation fuels. Other energy sources are allowed with pre-approval from GoFly.
Swapping of battery packs is allowed between flight attempts, but teams must still utilize rechargeable battery chemistries.
4.1.8. Reusability
The device must be reusable, i.e., it must be designed such that only the energy source (see above) must be replaced between flights.
4.2. Safety
4.2.1. Human-ratable
The intent of this competition is to develop technologies that can be rated for people to safely fly in the future. Consequently, the competition requires that all device architectures are, at the fundamental concept level, "human-ratable." The organizers define "human-ratable" as follows:
A device that has no systems or components, except for primary structure, in which a single point failure results in loss of an operator's life or limb.
Systems or components which, in the event of their failure, permit safe landing of the operator, may be of single string design.
4.2.2. Structure and component suitability
The primary structure may be a single point of failure if:
adequate proof testing is performed, or
it is designed to loads significantly higher than expected loads (safety factor ≥ 1.5) and its structural integrity is regularly inspected.
Adequate quality, performance, and service life of all components must meet appropriate requirements for the intended application.
4.2.3. Logged safe prior flight
Prior to the fly-off, you must have flight logged that totals the equivalent total maneuvers of at least ten full flight demonstrations. This must include at least 10 takeoffs, 1 hour total of flight analogous to speed course flight, 10 go-around maneuvers, and 10 landings to a full stop and power-down. This must be without incident, and any configuration changes made during this testing period must be documented.
In addition, the most recent logged flight, defined as including maneuvers totaling the equivalent of at least two full flight demonstrations and to the full extents of the mission performance envelope, including pre-takeoff and post-landing operations and remaining within a set demonstration area (in other words, rehearsals of your flight demonstration), must be without incident and with no changes whatsoever to the configuration. The restriction on changes is in the strictest possible sense, and “configuration” is used here in the broadest sense to include not just the device itself, but also personnel, ground equipment, procedures, software, etc.
4.2.4. Safety report
Teams are required to maintain and periodically submit a safety report. The safety report has no page limits or file size limits.
In the safety report, teams must:
Identify any single-point system failure that makes the device unsafe as defined above.
Propose design mitigations to the identified single point failures such that the design could be made fail-safe and human-ratable. Examples of mitigations may include enhancing component reliability, software development and testing, or utilizing emergency rescue ejection and parachute systems. Teams are strongly encouraged to incorporate as many of these mitigations into their fly-off entries as possible.
In addition, teams are strongly encouraged, but not required, to include in the safety report:
Documentation of structural analysis and/or testing.
Documentation and logs of flight testing or any other testing to date.
A functional hazard analysis.
4.2.5. Team safety responsibility
Competition teams are solely responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles. This includes the safety of the operator, the vehicle, and any object or person on the ground. The organizers of the competition will verify that each report submitted addresses the above requirements. If the test teams do not address the above requirements, they will not be allowed to proceed in the competition. However, the organizers will not assess the adequacy of the submission from a safety perspective. The competition team is solely responsible for identifying all risks, mitigating them to the maximum extent possible, and determining if the residual risk is acceptable.
Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. As America’s biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.
Corporate Sponsor:
Pratt & Whitney: Sponsor of the $100,000 Disruptor Award
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries
Global Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace insurance with a worldwide portfolio of clients who are engaged in every aspect of the aviation and space industries. Known for its innovative approach to providing insurance solutions for the industry, the company’s underwriting is backed by a pool of high quality insurance companies representing some of the most respected names in the business. Global Aerospace will provide all eligible Phase II and III GoFly Teams with $1,000,000 of Aircraft Liability insurance for a flat rate of $1,500.* Email for more information.
*eligibility dependent on team’s geographical jurisdiction
The modern CAD system offers advanced modeling tools and design data management in a secure cloud workspace that is accessible on any device and never loses data. Onshape will be providing its Professional Level CAD software and technical support to all registered GoFly Teams. When additional help is needed, all Teams have access to Onshape technical support, online classes and tutorials.
TotalSim US’s Computational Fluid Dynamics allows users to simulate test conditions and run robust analyses on build designs, all through cutting edge CFD technologies. All GoFly Teams will have access to TotalSim US’s CFD software, as well as access to simulation tokens.
BRS Aerospace: Ballistic Recovery Systems Safety Consultations
BRS will provide free Ballistic Recovery Systems Safety consultations to all Phase II Teams on designing the Team’s safety mechanism. BRS CEO and GoFly Master Boris Popov will also personally provide the consultation for each Team. All Phase III Teams will be provided with a Safety System Assessment Report at no charge and will have the opportunity to purchase a BRS system at a 20% discount.
Cases By Source designs and manufactures protective packaging to protect some of the world’s finest and valuable instruments and equipment. All Teams that make it to Phase III will be supplied with a free Cases by Source custom case and custom foam insert in order to help you transport your Personal Flying Devices to the Final Fly Off. The design process begins in Phase II when each Team is supplied with a free custom case rendering and will have the ability to work directly with Cases By Source designers on their custom cases.
Fibre Glast Developments specializes in the distribution of carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, resins, vacuum bagging materials, pumps and equipment, additives, gel coats and other supplies necessary to create lightweight, durable aircraft. Fibre Glast will be providing a 20% discount on all products sold on their websites for all registered and participating Phase II GoFly Teams.
Rock West Composites sells carbon fiber tubes, plates, rods, shapes, connectors, and a whole host of composite material needs that will be essential in the build phase for our competitors. Rock West will provide a 15% discount on all goods sold on the Rock West websites to all registered and participating GoFly Phase II Teams.
Firgelli Automations is a global provider for TV Lifts, Linear Actuators and many other products to support a huge range of industries and applications. The Top 10 Phase I Teams who continue onto Phase II will be provided with one free Firgelli Automations actuator at no cost or charge to the Teams. In addition, all Phase II Teams will receive 30% off the regular price of all items on the Firgelli website for so long as such Team is registered and participating in the GoFly Prize.
Voltaplex provides lithium-ion cells for industries ranging from space to consumer electronics. Voltaplex has assisted competitors from Hyperloop, DARPA, Formula E, and others. Voltaplex guarantees authenticity and performance of products and can provide additional factory services like cell matching and testing for teams lacking equipment. Voltaplex also offers free consultations to team members for cell selection and sourcing, preliminary battery pack design, and other lithium-ion challenges that may arise. Competitors receive their maximum pricing discounts and minimum order quantities on all cells and packs.
Partner Organizations:
The Vertical Flight Society is the world’s oldest and largest technical society dedicated to enhancing the understanding of vertical flight technology. Originally known as the American Helicopter Society (AHS), is a non-profit charitable education and technical organization. Since it was founded in 1943 — just as the first US helicopter was being put into service — the Society has been the primary forum for interchange of information on vertical flight technology. According to the AHS Bylaws, the purpose of the Society is to "advance the theory and practices of the science of vertical flight aircraft."
“The GoFly Prize is a unique opportunity to change the future of vertical flight, and AHS International is very pleased to be working with the GoFly team to help make this possible,” said Mike Hirschberg, Vertical Flight Society Executive Director. “We’ve been helping to support the GoFly team in developing the competition for the past two years, and we look forward to helping the teams to be as successful as they can be for this exciting competition.”
The Vertical Flight Society is providing free membership to one individual on each Phase II team, plus online access to the world’s only VTOL technical journal. Teams can expand this to 15 members and gain access to 11,000+ PDF more technical documents by registering as VFS Small Business Corporate Members at 60% off.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace professional society, serving a diverse range of more than 30,000 individual members from 88 countries, and 95 corporate members. In addition to membership, AIAA offers five forums and award-winning publications. In addition, AIAA leads the way on issue advocacy that impacts the aerospace sector, and through the Institute’s AIAA Foundation provides grants and other support for STEM K-12 programs.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is the world’s largest community of pilots. Operating out of offices in Frederick, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Wichita, Kansas, AOPA exists to protect and to grow the incredible privilege that we call general aviation. Whether it is through educating the public about the fun and the utility that aircraft can provide, preparing resources and training material to enhance the skills of pilots everywhere, or advocating for aviation within government agencies—it is our job to maintain the strength and vitality of the flying community.
“AOPA’s mission is to ensure the skies are within reach of everyone,” said Katie Pribyl, SVP of AOPA. “The GoFly Prize will encourage innovators, inventors and dreamers to help make vertical flight one step closer to mainstream.”
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is a growing and diverse community of more than 200,000 aviation enthusiasts who promote and support recreational flying, general aviation, and experimental amateur built aircraft. Founded in 1953 by a group of individuals who were interested in building their own airplanes, EAA expanded its mission of growing participation in aviation to include antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, and contemporary manufactured aircraft. The organization is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and hosts the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention every July.
“EAA is proud to support the inaugural GoFly Prize. Our roots have always been strong in aviation experimentation, exploration and the freedom to fly. There’s no better way to continue to evolve and grow the spirit of aviation than partnering with the sponsors, groups and mentors involved in this incredible endeavor. Innovation in our industry comes from many sources and the teams entering this contest will no doubt be among those defining the future of flight,” says Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman.”
AUVSI is the world's largest nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. Serving more than 7,500 members from government organizations, industry and academia, AUVSI is committed to fostering, developing and promoting unmanned systems and robotics technologies. AUVSI members support the defense, civil and commercial sectors.
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.
SAE International has 700 standards development technical committees and 17,000 technical professional volunteers from countries around the world. They serve every aspect of industry from vehicle design and integration to build, manufacture, operate, and maintain; and they address critical issues on everything from fuel to weather conditions, materials to electronics, engine power to energy mandates.
Founded in 1970, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is a global trade association fostering and advancing the general welfare, safety, interests and activities of the business and general aviation industry around the world. GAMA currently represents over 100 of the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. In 2015, GAMA created a new membership category and a committee to facilitate and represent innovation in the general aviation industry with focus in the area of hybrid and electric propulsion efforts.
GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce noted: “GAMA is proud to partner with GoFly on this exciting new initiative, which will spur interest in general aviation and the technologies of the future.”
From its beginning in 1955 when six civilian test pilots met for lunch at a café near Edwards Air Force Base in California, The Society of Experimental Test Pilots has grown into an internationally recognized organization with over 2,400 members in 33 countries. Our goal is to prevent accidents and loss of life by improving safety, design and flight test of aerospace vehicles and their related systems. SETP promotes safety, efficiency and professionalism in flight test through our regional and international symposia, flight test safety workshops and collaboration with other professional organizations.
The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the world’s only professional body dedicated to the entire aerospace community. The Society promotes the highest professional standards in all aerospace disciplines; provides specialist information; acts as a central forum for the exchange of ideas; and plays a leading role in influencing opinion on aerospace and aviation matters.
3AF is the French Aerospace Society, founded in 1945, bringing together 60 companies, research institutes and universities, as well as more than 1200 individual members. Through its 20 technical committees and 11 regional entities, 3AF produces studies in the various fields of the future of aerospace and makes proposals to decision makers. Representing the French aerospace community in European and International entities, 3AF organizes 10 symposia and international conferences per year. Each year the association recognizes the work of its members and of high personalities granting various categories of Awards.
The Brazilian Association of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering (ABCM) is a non-profitable and non-governmental cultural and scientific organization, established in April 19, 1975, with headquarters in the city of Rio de Janeiro. ABCM has as its primary purpose to congregate people and institutions with interest in Engineering and Mechanical Sciences in general. ABCM has members through Brazil and overseas, and it organizes a total of 12 conferences and meetings at every biannual cycle. ABCM sponsors three archival journals, and several other publications including books and proceedings.
The Air League is a not-for-profit aviation society in the United Kingdom, founded in 1909. Over 100 years after it was formed, the Air League’s mission is to enhance national understanding of the importance to the UK of aviation and aerospace, and to excite young people’s interest in these areas by helping them get involved. The Air League Trust is now the major provider of powered flying, ballooning, gliding and engineering scholarships and bursaries to young people and disabled veterans.
The Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA) is Singapore’s lead association focused on developing Singapore’s space technology industry. It acts as a neutral , non-profit platform to facilitate information and communication for government, industry and academia.
SSTA spearheads major trade and business-focused initiatives with the aim of advancing Singapore’s space ecosystem, thus catalysing Singapore’s drive as a regional space hub. On the domestic front, it drives educational and outreach programmes to encourage STEM careers in the expanding aerospace/space industry.
SSTA’s projects are multi-faceted, developed to meet the needs of our Government, Industry and Academic partners as well as professionals and students interested in Space and related technologies.
Lynette Tan, Executive Director of SSTA stated: "I am excited to continue to push the boundaries of human spaceflight and open up fresh possibilities for flight technologies."
The objectives of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) are to provide opportunities for the exchange of knowledge, discussion of aeronautical research, technology, and related issues and to promote international awareness, cooperation and collaboration.
Established in 1957, ICAS supports the work of about 30 professional Member Societies from around the world and, through its Associate Membership, engages with aerospace companies, national laboratories and educational institutions. ICAS holds a biennial Congress covering all aspects of aeronautical science and technology and their application to both military and civil aviation. Held in September of even-numbered years in an aeronautically relevant venue, the Congress attracts more than 700 delegates with a programme of over 600 papers and invited lectures. All papers are included in an electronic publication available at the Congress. In addition, the ICAS electronic archive, containing over 5000 documents, is freely available to the world-wide aeronautics community.
Since 1947, Flight Safety Foundation has helped save lives around the world. The Foundation is an international non-profit organization chartered to provide impartial, independent, expert safety guidance and resources for the aviation and aerospace industry. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety, and it is in a unique position to identify global safety issues, set priorities and serve as a catalyst to address these concerns through data collection and information sharing, education, advocacy and communications. Flight Safety Foundation has more than 1,000 organizational and individual members in 150 countries, is based in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., and has a regional office in Melbourne, Australia.
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. The not-for-profit educational and service organization is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. To ensure SWE members reach their full potential as engineers and leaders, the Society offers unique opportunities to network, provides professional development, shapes public policy and provides recognition for the life-changing contributions and achievements of women engineers. As a champion of diversity, SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in their personal and professional lives.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics, founded in 1936, continues to be devoted to national airspace safety. It serves as the nation’s collective voice for approximately 190,000 modelers in 2,400 clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, AMA is a membership organization representing those who fly model aircraft for recreation, education, and commercial operation. For more information, visit www.modelaircraft.org.
“AMA is excited to partner with GoFly in support of this creative initiative,” said Dave Mathewson, Executive Director of the AMA. “AMA has always supported advancements in aviation technology, and we look forward to witnessing the success of the GoFly program.”
Founded in 1919, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the U.S. aerospace and defense industry on Capitol Hill, within the administration and internationally. As the Voice of American aerospace and defense, AIA has fueled American progress and leadership in national security, civil aviation, and space. Through AIA, aerospace and defense manufacturers, supported by a workforce of 2.4 million skilled employees, advocate for policies that protect the interests of our nation and our industry.
“Innovation is at the heart of America’s aerospace and defense industry. The technological advances that have come out of our proud and patriotic workforce have made us stronger, prosperous, and more secure as a nation, said Dave Melcher, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association. “Programs like GoFly continue to press those same boundaries of innovation, and continue to inspire the next generation of the American workforce.”
Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering (AMIE) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to expand corporate, government and academic alliances to implement and support programs to attract, educate, graduate and place underrepresented minority students in engineering careers.
“For the past 24 years, Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) has been committed to assuring the STEM Pipeline has diverse and exceptional talent for academia, industry and government agencies. We believe in order to increase the STEM Pipeline, we must give those dreamers, creators, thinkers access to programs like GoFly to allow them to explore the possibilities and create innovative solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”
Founded in 1897, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is a global society of individual, institutional, and corporate members. ASEE seeks to be the pre-eminent authority on the education of engineering professionals by advancing innovation, excellence, and access at all levels of education. ASEE engages with engineering faculty, business leaders, college and high school students, parents, and teachers to enhance the engineering workforce of the nation. We are the only professional society addressing opportunities and challenges spanning all engineering disciplines, working across the breadth of academic education, research, and public service.
"ASEE is pleased to partner with GoFly in encouraging creativity and innovation in tomorrow's engineers," said Norman Fortenberry, ASEE Executive Director. "We believe that hands-on experiential learning activities such as the GoFly Prize are essential to the professional formation of engineers."
Great Minds in STEM™ is a 501(c)3 a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping America technologically strong by promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers, especially in underserved communities. Established in 1989 and based in the Los Angeles area, the organization’s nation-wide programming focuses on STEM educational awareness from kindergarten through college, and on seeking-out and documenting the world-class contributions of Hispanic professionals in STEM to serve as role models for the next generation of American engineers and scientists. Great Minds in STEM’s annual HENAAC Conference is the organization’s flagship event where all elements of outreach and programming come together to celebrate Hispanic excellence in STEM. GMiS has provided over $3.1M in STEM Scholarships and has a robust curriculum based on-line STEM mentoring program with MentorNet which is free for all mentees and mentors. GMiS K-12 programs have served over 150,000 students, educators and parents in over 18 states with the Viva Technology, Gen-STEM, STEM-Up, and STEM Showdown signature programs.
Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries, serving 1.7 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week Network to help them understand the market, make decisions, predict trends, and connect with people and business opportunities. Customers include the world's leading aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this worldwide marketplace. Aviation Week Network’s portfolio delivers award-winning journalism, data, intelligence and analytical resources, world-class tradeshows and conferences, and results-driven marketing services and advertising. Aviation Week Network is part of Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC.
GoFly has partnered with Sue and Jim Gardner to engage with all active Phase III Teams who may need support navigating the FAA aircraft and airman pathways. Both are recently retired after an illustrious 30 year career with the FAA.
Jim’s role as a senior executive in Flight Standards with experience navigating both GA airman and aircraft certification, and Sue’s role as the FAA National Aviation Events Specialist, and FAA team member supporting development of pathways for sUAS and unique aircraft (e.g Jetman, flyboards), and Program Lead for the Sport Pilot and LSA rulemaking give them the tools and strong relationships within the FAA to help all our active Phase III teams identify and navigate their way through the FAA certification pathways in an efficient manner. On behalf of GoFly, they will work directly with all active Phase III Teams in a one-on-one capacity to help each team define your FAA certification pathway and then provide an additional 5 hours support for each team as you process the required FAA paperwork for both your aircraft/vehicle and the pilot/operator.
Thank you, again, to all those who submitted for Stage 1 of GoAERO! We are looking forward to learning more about the transformative emergency response aircrafts you seek to build.
Stage 2 Registrations Documents
Stage 2 Registration Documents are now available! Even if you did not participate in Stage 1, we invite and encourage you to participate in Stage 2.
There is a big difference between designing on paper and actual building/flying, so the documents involved for the different Stages of the GoAERO Prize vary as well. In order to proceed from Stage 1 (the paper technical specifications Stage of the competition) into the actual building (Stages 2 and 3 of the Competition), ALL Teams must submit an additional application and be accepted as a Stage 2 or Stage 3 Team by GoAERO.
Each Team that participates in Stage 2 and 3 is required to complete the package of legal documents which will govern those Stages of the Competition, including the following:
Certificate of Insurance (as required by the Master Team Agreement)
Of note, Stage 2 and 3 Teams must register and participate as legal entities, and not as individuals.
Under no circumstances should any off-paper work, building or testing take place before a Team is formally admitted into Stage 2 or Stage 3 of the GoAERO Prize. Should any work be done off-paper before being accepted into Stage 2 or Stage 3 in contravention of the foregoing, such work is done entirely outside the scope of the GoAERO Prize.
The Team Captain must complete page 1 and sign the MTA (page 18), Exhibit A (page 20), and Exhibit B (page 22).
The Team Captain ONLY must attach the Team's Legal Entity Status and current Team Roster (Team member name, email address, affiliation (.xls)) to DocuSign.
All Team Members must complete page 1 and sign the MTA (page 18), Exhibit A (page 20), and Exhibit B (page 22).
The Team Captain and all Team Members must complete and sign the Media Rights Agreement.
Obtain Insurance. The Team Captain should send proof of insurance to info@goaeroprize.com.
Proof of Insurance
As detailed in the Master Team Agreement, all Teams are required to provide proof of insurance. Coverage requirements are detailed in the MTA. We have partnered with Global Aerospace who will provide all eligible Stage 2 and 3 GoAERO Teams with $1,000,000 of Aircraft Liability insurance for a flat rate of $1,500.(*Note that eligibility is dependent on team’s geographical jurisdiction). Email for more information. You are not required to use Global Aerospace.
Setting up your Company: Expert Lecture
We will be hosting an Expert Lecture in January re: corporate formation and legal entity status. In the meantime, you can review a similar lecture that we provided for the GoFly competition. The information is accurate and relevant to your GoAERO corporate formation.
All Stage 2 Documents must be submitted in time for the Stage 2 Submission deadline, however we encourage you to submit your paperwork as soon as possible to ensure a safe, and eligible build.
The GoAERO Stage 1 submission deadline is TODAY, December 11, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Time (New York/ USA).
NO materials submitted outside of the platform will be accepted.
NO late submissions will be accepted.
Complete the submission form and upload all of your documents in a timely manner. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT.
You will receive a confirmation email when your submission is accepted. If you do not receive a confirmation, check your junk email, or try again.
If you have any questions regarding your submission, please ask us directly at info@goaeroprize.com or leave a comment on the forum. We look forward to reviewing your submissions!
Reminder: The Stage 1 submission deadline for GoAERO is in ONE Week on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Time (New York/ USA).
NO materials submitted outside of the platform will be accepted.
NO late submissions will be accepted.
Submission Form:
There are a number of documents to upload and required fields in the submission. DO NOT wait until the last minute to begin uploading/completing your submission form.
You can SAVE your submission as a DRAFT along they way. You can continue to EDIT your submission, even if you have submitted, until the Stage 1 Submission Deadline.
Take careful note of the formatting requirements for the Technical Report and other other documentation. Documents formatted incorrectly will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed by the judges. Extra pages or documents linked outside of the report will not be reviewed by the judges.
You must download and save the Schedule and Resources document to your own device. Complete it and then upload it in the required section of the submission.
The submission fee for individuals is $250 and $500 for teams. You will receive a confirmation email when your submission is accepted. If you do not receive a confirmation, check your junk email, or try again. If you continue to have trouble submitting, contact us at
Contact us with any questions, or add a comment in the Forum. Best of luck finishing up your submissions!
Reminder: The Stage 1 submission deadline for GoAERO is in TWO Weeks on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Time (New York/ USA).
NO materials submitted outside of the platform will be accepted and NO late submissions will be accepted.
There are a number of documents to upload and required fields in the submission. DO NOT wait until the last minute to begin uploading/completing your submission form. You can SAVE your submission as a DRAFT along they way. You can continue to EDIT your submission, even if you have submitted, until the Stage 1 Submission Deadline.
Please take careful note of the formatting requirements for the technical report and other other documentation. Documents formatted incorrectly will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed by the judges.
To review these requirements and prepare your digital submission offline prior to uploading, a PDF version of the Stage 1 Submission Form and Judging Criteria can be found here.
The submission fee for individuals is $250 and $500 for teams. Make sure to have your payment information on hand when submitting and plan your submission time accordingly. You will receive a confirmation email when your submission is accepted. If you do not receive a confirmation, check your junk email, or try again. If you continue to have trouble submitting, contact us at
View the Technical Rules webinar and deep-dive into the Stage 1 Submission here.
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please don’t hesitate to ask us directly or leave a comment on the forum. We can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on. Best of luck finishing up your submissions!
Register now for our GoAERO Technical Rules webinar, tomorrow, September 25th at 12:00pm ET/ 9am PT.
Join us as we review the GoAERO Technical Rules in-depth and do a deep dive into the Stage 1 submission requirements and judging criteria as the Stage 1 deadline approaches on December 11, 2024. We encourage you to review all details in advance and come prepared with your questions.