CAFE Foundation
Encyclopedia
The CAFE Foundation is a U.S. non-profit aviation development and flight test organization based in Windsor, California
. CAFE is an acronym for "Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency". The organization promotes experimental aviation activities which promote the development of highly efficient aircraft. It is sponsored by many organizations including Boeing Phantom Works
, NASA
, EAA
, AOPA, Glasair Aviation
, among others; and funding is also obtained through an FAA grant.
(EAA) Chapter 124. In the late 1970s, races were held at the annual EAA AirVenture Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
in which the goal was to fly the most fuel-efficient general aviation
aircraft. From the early races, the CAFE Formula evolved to evaluate the aircraft. The Formula is V x MPG x W, where V=average velocity over the course of the race, MPG=miles per gallon of fuel and W=cabin payload in pounds. The first regular race to use this formula was the CAFE 400, which was held each summer from 1981 to 1990 and carried a purse of $2,000.
, a high-performance single-engine all-composite aircraft designed by Burt Rutan
and flown by his brother, Dick Rutan
. Rather than a monetary purse, the two races now are commemorated by a perpetual trophy.
The 2011 CAFE Green Flight Challenge requires participants to fly 200 miles (321.9 km) in under 2 hours, and doing it at less than 1 gallons (3.8 l) of gasonline per occupant. Nine teams have registered.
.
Pocket airports have been suggested by CAFE as infrastructure to support personal air vehicles.
Windsor, California
Windsor is an incorporated town in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 26,801 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:Windsor is located on U.S. Route 101 in the Russian River valley, about southeast of Healdsburg, California....
. CAFE is an acronym for "Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency". The organization promotes experimental aviation activities which promote the development of highly efficient aircraft. It is sponsored by many organizations including Boeing Phantom Works
Boeing Phantom Works
The Phantom Works division is the advanced prototyping arm of the Defense and Security side of The Boeing Company. Its primary focus is developing advanced military products and technologies, many of them highly classified, and has produced breakthroughs in defense, space and security.Founded by...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, EAA
EAA
EAA can refer to:*Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, an international organization of churches*Educational Assessment Australia, an educational assessment organisation*Electric Auto Association, a group advocating use of electric automobiles...
, AOPA, Glasair Aviation
Glasair Aviation
Glasair Aviation, LLC is an aircraft manufacturer based in Arlington, Washington that produces the Glasair and Sportsman 2+2 line of homebuilt aircraft.-History:...
, among others; and funding is also obtained through an FAA grant.
CAFE 400
The CAFE Foundation is an outgrowth from activities sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft AssociationExperimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
(EAA) Chapter 124. In the late 1970s, races were held at the annual EAA AirVenture Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
in which the goal was to fly the most fuel-efficient general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft. From the early races, the CAFE Formula evolved to evaluate the aircraft. The Formula is V x MPG x W, where V=average velocity over the course of the race, MPG=miles per gallon of fuel and W=cabin payload in pounds. The first regular race to use this formula was the CAFE 400, which was held each summer from 1981 to 1990 and carried a purse of $2,000.
CAFE triaviathon
In 1986, the Foundation utilized a newly-developed, ultra-sensitive airspeed sensor, called the CAFE Barograph and inaugurated the CAFE Triaviathon race. This race evaluated an aircraft based on top speed, stall speed and rate of climb. Because of the baragraph's sensitivity, the FAA later designated it as the standard for use during aircraft certification flight tests. The CAFE 400 and Triaviathon races were discontinued after the 1990 seasonFlight test program
After the 1990 season, the focus of the Foundation shifted to performing detailed flight test analyses of experimental aircraft, again focusing on the aircraft's efficiency. Each aircraft evaluated resulted in an Aircraft Performance Report that was then published by the EAA. These activities took place at a new facility, the CAFE Flight Test Center, at the Sonoma County Airport, funded by the EAA and completed in 1993.CAFE challenge
In that same year, a new face, the CAFE Challenge, was inaugurated, and the Triaviathon was reinstated. Using highly accurate GPS technology, the Challenge uses the CAFE Formula over a 500 miles (804.7 km) closed course to evaluate an aircraft's performance. The first winner of the Challenge was the Scaled Composites CatbirdScaled Composites Catbird
-External links:* ]]...
, a high-performance single-engine all-composite aircraft designed by Burt Rutan
Burt Rutan
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is an American aerospace engineer noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, energy-efficient aircraft...
and flown by his brother, Dick Rutan
Dick Rutan
Richard Glenn "Dick" Rutan is an aviator who piloted the Voyager aircraft around the world non-stop with co-pilot Jeana Yeager...
. Rather than a monetary purse, the two races now are commemorated by a perpetual trophy.
The 2011 CAFE Green Flight Challenge requires participants to fly 200 miles (321.9 km) in under 2 hours, and doing it at less than 1 gallons (3.8 l) of gasonline per occupant. Nine teams have registered.
NASA-funded challenges
Beginning in 2008, the Challenge race was recast. NASA has funded a purse of $300,000, to be distributed over several prizes, including the Community Noise Prize, the "Green Prize", which measures fuel efficiency, the Aviation Safety Prize, for aircraft handling qualities, a reinstatement of the CAFE 400 race, and the "Quietest LSA" Prize. In addition, NASA had put up $2 million in prize funding to encourage the development of the Personal Air VehiclePersonal air vehicle
A personal air vehicle or PAV, also personal aerial vehicle, is a class of light general aviation aircraft which meets design and performance goals intended to make flying as commonplace as driving...
.
Other activities
The CAFE Foundation also hosts an annual symposium which focuses on research subjects that affect the development of more efficient aircraft.Pocket airports have been suggested by CAFE as infrastructure to support personal air vehicles.