The efforts of Yuneec, Sonex and Lange Aviation were recognized at EAA AirVenture on Friday as the three were awarded the first Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes. Yuneec took the honors for the best example of an electric aircraft, the E430; Sonex won for its efforts in developing subsystems and components; and Axel Lange took the individual achievement award for his development of the Antares 20E motorglider. The prizes totaled $25,000, but Erik Lindbergh announced shortly after the ceremony that all of the winners had agreed to donate their prizes back to the LEAP organization to help fund education programs that aim to inspire young people to participate in aviation.
The prizes were awarded at EAA’s World Symposium of Electric Flight at the EAA museum. Lindbergh announced the prize program earlier this year at Sun ‘n Fun, and since then he has been seeking corporate sponsors and also developing educational outreach. He spoke with AVweb at Sun ‘n Fun about the project and what he hopes it will accomplish; click here for that podcast.
