e-Genius
The research and development aircraft e-Genius was developed at the Institute for Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart to take part in the NASA/CAFE "Green Flight Challenge.
The challenge took place near San Francisco, California USA in 2011.The winner was awarded a sum of US $ 1.5 million by the NASA and the main sponsor Google. The challenging task was to design a fast and at the same time particularly efficient aircraft. One of the conditions, which the aircraft had to fulfil, was a range of 320 km with an average speed of at least 160 km/h. Further, the fuel consumption was supposed to be less than one litre per 100 km and passenger, which equals just less than 9 kWh per 100 km and passenger. The competition was organized by the US-American “Comparative Aircraft Efficiency” (CAFE) Foundation, based in Santa Rosa, California. It was expected to be a top-class competition of the American elite universities and institutes.
Karl Käser was charged with the production management of the e-Genius, first in the workshop shed of the Institute of Aircraft Design of the University of Stuttgart, then at Grob Aircraft in the city of Mindelheim. In addition to that, Karl Käser supported the design team and the flight testing phase as a pilot. During the competition, Karl Käser was responsible for technical issues as an official team member beside the pilots Eric Raymond and Klaus Ohlmann.
The e-Genius was outstandingly placed second at the competition; no other aircraft needed less energy for the prescribed distance.
