GoFly Prize Draws 2,000 Competitors

So far more than 2,000 people have signed up to be part of Boeings GoFly challenge, which offers $2 million in prizes to inspire the creation of a safe and easy-to-use near-VTOL personal flying device. Already Boeing has hosted six online Master Lectures covering diverse topics such as safety, how to find funding, rotary-wing flight controls and more, all hosted by experts in their field. The lectures all are posted online. The competition is open to individuals over age 18 and to teams.

So far more than 2,000 people have signed up to be part of Boeing's GoFly challenge, which offers $2 million in prizes to inspire the creation of a "safe and easy-to-use near-VTOL personal flying device." Already Boeing has hosted six online "Master Lectures" covering diverse topics such as safety, how to find funding, rotary-wing flight controls and more, all hosted by experts in their field. The lectures all are posted online. The competition is open to individuals over age 18 and to teams. The first deadline is April 18, when a written report and preliminary drawing must be submitted, along with a fee of $250 for individuals and $500 for teams.

The challenge will take place over three phases — Phase I will award up to 10 prizes of $20,000 each, based on a written report. Phase II will award up to four $50,000 prizes, based on demonstrated progress to date. In Phase III, a grand prize of $1 million will go to the competitor with the best overall score in the October 2019 fly-off, with smaller prizes for the quietest, smallest and most original entries. "The GoFly Prize is designed to capture our imagination," Boeing says at the project's website. "Our goal is the same as [Leonardo] Da Vinci's and children of wonder throughout the ages: Make people fly - safely and effortlessly." For detailed information about the competition and how to compete, see the project's website.