Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) Challenge Approaching

Since the PAV Challenge is approaching (it will be held August 4-11), I thought it would be a good time to post some links related to this Centennial Challenge. Check the tag below for more related links.

Kitplanes.com had a recent overview of the challenge.

The competition will be held at the Sonoma County Airport, where the CAFE Foundation running the challenge has a test facility. The airport has a publication called the Red Baron Flyer; page 3 of the linked flyer is on the PAV Challenge. This particular Centennial Challenge will not be open to the public (I imagine because of safety concerns and/or the long time it will take to run the challenge tests), but the public can visit the airport on Sunday, August 12 (9 AM - 1 PM) to view the PAVs in the contest on display.

Page 4 of another flyer, this one from the Flying Wire document published by the chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association that includes the CAFE Foundation running the challenge, also has an update on the PAV Challenge.

The August issue of this flyer is full of information about the PAV Challenge. It has some hints about how you can see the PAV Challenge in spite of the restriction mentioned above:

"If you wish to see the upcoming PAV Challenge from the airport side of the fence, you will
have to work for the privilege. Only CAFE staff and volunteers will be allowed inside the gates
due to security reasons".

After the challenge, there will be a banquet and awards ceremony with "surprise keynote speakers" and prizes. Details are on page 3 of the August flyer issue.

Page 4 gives a detailed schedule of the PAV Challenge events:

Aug 3, 07 Friday All Day Possible PAV Arrivals CAFE Hangar
All Day CAFE Prep CAFE Hangar

Aug 4, 07 Saturday 0800 – 1400 PAV Arrivals CAFE Hangar
0900 – 1400 PAV Registration CAFE Hangar
0900 – 1700 Safety Inspection CAFE Hangar
1200 – 1700 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
1200 – 1300 Take Off Team Training CAFE Hangar
1300 – 1400 Noise Team Training CAFE Hangar
1400 – 1500 Speed Team Training CAFE Hangar
1500 – 1600 Handling Team Training CAFE Hangar
1600 – 1700 Efficiency Team Training CAFE Hangar
1700 – 1800 Pilot Briefing CAFE Hangar

Aug 5, 07 Sunday 0800 – 1000 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
0800 – 0830 Pilot Briefing CAFE Hangar
0800 – 1200 Take Off & Community Noise Contest CAFE Hangar
1400 – 1430 Media Briefing Media Center

Aug 6, 07 Monday 0800 – 1200 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
0800 – 0830 Pilot Briefing CAFE Hangar
0800 – 1200 Speed Calibration CAFE Hangar
1400 – 1430 Media Briefing Media Center

Aug 7, 07 Tuesday 0800 – 1000 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
0800 – 0830 Pilot Briefing CAFE Hangar
0800 – 1200 Speed and Cabin Noise Contest CAFE Hangar
1400 – 1430 Media Briefing Media Center

Aug 8, 07 Wednesday0800 – 1000 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
1000 – 1400 Handling Contest CAFE Hangar
1400 – 1430 Media Briefing Media Center
1800 – 1930 EAA Feed EAA 124 Hangar

Aug 9, 07 Thursday All Day No events CAFE Hangar

Aug 10, 07 Friday 1300 – 1700 Aircraft Weight-In CAFE Hangar

Aug 11, 07 Saturday 0600 – 0800 Aircraft Prep CAFE Hangar
0800 – 0830 Pilot Briefing CAFE Hangar
0800 – 1300 CAFE Efficiency Contest CAFE Hangar
0800 – 1600 PAV Simulators Media Center
1900 – 2230 Awards Banquet Charlie's Grill

Aug 12, 07 Sunday All Day Departures
0900 – 1300 Aircraft Exhibit SJC

Pages 3 and 4 of the May newsletter have a fictional story about the winners of the contest, followed by an update from that month.