Richard Glassock, an Australian glider pilot and designer, has just announced a crowd-funding project for his ground-breaking and breath-taking six-seat sailplane design — the Cloudbase Café. Contributions will be accepted beginning March 27, 2013 (21 hours from now as I write). He has engaged Pozible as a vehicle for crowd-funding and has set a goal of A$5,000,000 in 90 days.
“After five years of university research on the potential of hybrid-electric powerplants for aircraft use, Richard realised the time has come. Electric aircraft are in development all around the world. Companies such as Boeing, Siemens and many smaller aircraft manufacturers have projects under way. Yet no other developer has ever offered the Cloudbase Café…
“You may think that $5M is too much, or not enough to create this machine. Aircraft projects are always difficult to accurately cost; however, we know that this is a realistic goal. We know that this machine can be created with this budget. The design has progressed from Concept into Preliminary phase. Always, the technical requirements will be met with adherence to the aesthetic attributes in design. All true design is a unification of art and science; this project embraces and harnesses the best in these creative processes to liberate a machine which transcends.
“Upon reaching the target funding, suitable world class manufacturers and designers will be offered roles to complete detailed design and prepare for production. While most of the requisite technologies are fully mature, and modern computerised techniques enhance rapid development, it will realistically take at least two years to see prototype aircraft entering certification. In addition to nominated rewards, supporters will be kept up to date with the process as it unfolds. This will be a spectacular journey.
“Richard has a long association with aerospace and engineering studies, building his first model aircraft around age eight. He subsequently designed, built and flew around 50 different models. At 16, he flew his first solo in a light aircraft but had to wait another 10 years before acquiring his own full-size aircraft, a Moyes XT165 hang glider. Currently, Richard has over 2000 hours of flight experience, including general aviation, 300 hours in gliders, and many more in autonomous flight systems.
“Richard has a Diploma in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, an Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree by Research Thesis in Mechanical Engineering. For the past seven years Richard has been involved in assisting commercial, graduate and undergraduate aerospace projects at a major university. In particular, Richard has enjoyed helping hundreds of students with aircraft development and flight testing activities.”
If you’re interested in supporting Richard’s dream, visit his Pozible website and make a pledge. You can also help get the word out. As he said in his message to us:
“I would be very grateful if you could link this to your entire network and ask them to do likewise. All means of connection, email, Facebook, Twitter etc. can be used. … I have yet to find anyone who cannot be inspired by the concept.”
Keep up to date about progress on this awesome project here and make your pledge here.
