Innovations Day Brings New Technology to the Forefront

July 13, 2017 - Innovation has a place every day during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, but it will be highlighted on Tuesday during Innovations Day.

Innovations Day’s main event, the Founder’s Innovation Prize, will take place in the Theater in the Woods 8-10 p.m. Tuesday. The Founder’s Innovation Prize is a Shark Tank­-style pitch competition allowing innovators to pitch their ideas to solve the problem of fatal loss of control accidents in amateur-built aviation.

The best three concepts for this goal will receive cash prizes, with the first-place finisher taking home $25,000, the second-place finisher taking home $10,000, and the third-place finisher receiving $5,000.

Innovations Day is not strictly limited to the evening, however. Unique and futuristic aircraft will be present on Boeing Plaza throughout the day for attendees to get a good look at some innovations in the aerospace field, and some will even fly during AirVenture.

The e-Spirit of St. Louis, named after the airplane that Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris back in 1927, was designed and built by a group of both graduate students and researchers at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and is supported by Erik Lindbergh, Charles’ grandson. Scaled Composite’s Proteus will also be in attendance on Tuesday. Proteus is a unique high-altitude aircraft that holds three altitude records for airplanes in its weight class, and it will fly the pattern in Oshkosh, although likely not at 63,000 feet, the record-breaking altitude it reached in 2000.

The Stratos 714, a very light personal jet, will be on Boeing Plaza as well. The 714 is anticipated to be capable of crossing the United States in seven hours with just one stop at full payload, and will be able to carry up to four people.  

And if it’s aviation innovations you’re looking for, don’t miss the EAA Innovation Center located in Aviation Gateway Park where you can find Innovative companies showcasing advancements in electric mobility, 3-D Printing capabilities, new start up technologies, UAVs, and even a sneak peek at a few flying cars! Read more.

All of these innovative aircraft and more will be on display for attendees to see during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017.