Chip Yates, national spokesman for the (Astronaut Pete) Conrad Foundation, recently released a video talking about why this is the perfect time for young adults to join the innovation revolution and bring their ideas to the Conrad Foundation for the 2015 Spirit of Innovation Challenge.                            **Click to view video

Yates is a highly dynamic and proven leader who has become recognized worldwide as an electric vehicle pioneer and green technology innovator. Yates built the world’s fastest electric airplane, holds 18 world records for electric vehicles and has an MBA in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California.

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“If I accomplished these things with no funding, but just a few dedicated volunteers and a heart for innovation, you can too,” Yates urges teens and young adults to bring their ideas to the 2015 Challenge. “There’s never been more opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators to change the world than now,” he says.

Flight of the Century has joined forces with Angel Flight West to use our Piper Cherokee Charger to fly kids with medical problems to their distant doctor or hospital appointments.

This summer Flight of the Century test pilot Chip Yates received his Angel Flight “Command Pilot” status and immediately conducted ten Angel Flight missions…transporting kids and adults suffering from medical problems and life-threatening illnesses to airports such as Merced, North Las Vegas, Carlsbad, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Lake Havasu, San Diego, Van Nuys, San Bernardino, and Long Beach.

“I’m humbled by the courage of the kids, parents and other adults I transport,” Yates said. “These people are struggling with some really major issues, and it’s a privilege to be able to help in a small way.”

FOTC uses the gasoline powered Piper Cherokee for R&D relating to the mid-air recharging program of the eight-time world record setting airplane, says Yates. But when time permits between test flights, he donates his airplane and his time to Angel Flight for these important medical missions. Yates also devotes time to making STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) presentations in schools, encouraging and motivating kids to achieve.  **Visit Yates’ Rockstar of Science website for information.

Photo above: Yates makes hospital, museum, and educational visits in a recent trip to Sacramento.

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Angel Flight West is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that arranges free, non-emergency air travel for children and adults with serious medical conditions and other compelling needs. The network of 1,400+ pilots throughout the 13 western states donate their aircraft, piloting skills, and all flying costs to help families in need, enabling them to receive vital treatment that might otherwise be inaccessible because of financial, medical, or geographic limitations.  **Click for more information

The kids are great,” Yates said. “Always curious and excited about being in a private plane. I love them all.”