Bloomberg Hails So CA Inventor Chip Yates

Pioneer and entrepreneur Chip Yates is featured on Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg TV and BloombergBusinessweek

**Click to view Bloomberg video**

I have an interesting relationship with the concept of risk. I personally believe you’re not going to innovate that much without taking risk. But I’m not a daredevil.”  –Chip Yates

 

Chip Contemplative

What is Half Elon Musk, Half Evel Knievel?

Oct. 22 (Bloomberg) — “Chip Yates, a SoCal-based inventor, has created both the world’s fastest electric motorcycle and the world’s fastest electric airplane. He’s soon ready to turn years of self-funded R&D into a business, but not before realizing his ultimate aspiration: crossing the Atlantic in an electric plane for the first time ever, with the help of drones that will recharge his plane in mid-air.”

Video by: Alan Jeffries (Source: Bloomberg)”

 

Aviation Pioneer Chip Yates To Accept International Award

FAIRecord-setting entrepreneur and pioneer Chip Yates will be honored on October 16 by the World Air Sports Federation (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) for changing the course of aviation history.

 

Yates has been selected to receive the FAI’s Louis Bleriot Medal for his record-setting flights in 2013, which established new international landmarks in speed, altitude and distance for electric flight.

 

The award will be presented at the Opening Ceremony of the FAI General Conference in Pattaya, Thailand, where Yates will become part of the distinguished list of honorees since 1936 who have made outstanding contributions to aeronutics and astronautics. Prior honorees include the inspirational Dick Rutan and other aviation greats from the US, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Italy, Finland, Australia, the UK and elsewhere.

 

Yates paid tribute to those who have worked with him to push electric aviation to the forefront. “This is thanks to your efforts to turn a far-fetched dream into reality,” he said. “And we’ve only just begun!”

 

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Chip Yates is well-known throughout the world as builder and rider of the world’s fastest motorcycle, and builder and pilot of the world’s fastest electric airplane. He has amassed 18 world records and is currently developing a long-range transatlantic plane that will be recharged mid-air by battery-filled drones. In 2012 Yates was named a “Pioneer of Aviation” by the State of California.

 

***Visit Yates’ new website www.rockstarofscience.com to learn more about his outreach and education, his STEM speaking tours to schools, and other lecture opportunities.

 

 

Be an Entrepreneur! says Spirit of Innovation Challenge Spokesperson Chip Yates

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 InnovationFor ABOUT on Website 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.

 

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Flight of the Century Flies with the Angels to Help Kids

 

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.”

Visiting with Kids at sacramento Museum

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 IMG_99461-150x150financial, 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.”

History’s Highest Performing Electric Airplane Sets 5 Official World Records!

 It’s official! The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has ratified all five electric airplane world records set to date by American Test Pilot Chip Yates in his experimental, battery-powered Long-ESA aircraft.  

The world sanctioning body’s approval comes on the heels of the announcement by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) of the five record-setting performances by Electric Vehicle Pioneer Chip Yates, as he continues to advance electric vehicle technoloFor ABOUT on Websitegy.

Yates’ first record came in July 2012 when he became the first person in history to break 200 mph in an electric airplane (after receiving his pilot’s license the week before). In 2013 he raised the top speed to 220.9 while setting a Guiness World Record in front of a crowd of 100,000 at the California Capital Airshow in Sacramento.

 

 Current records now include:

  • Altitude (14,701 ft.)
  • Speed over a 3 km course (201 mph – 4 pass avg speed))
  • Time to climb to a height of 3,000 m (5 min 32 sec) – selected by the NAA as the “Most Memorable Aviation Record of 2013”
  • Altitude in horizontal flight (14,564 ft)
  • Speed over a 15 km course (140 mph (2 pass avg speed)

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Chip Yates is well-known as builder and rider of the world’s fastest motorcycle, and builder and pilot of the world’s fastest electric airplane. He has amassed 18 world records and is currently developing a long-range transatlantic plane that will be recharged mid-air by battery-filled drones. In 2012 Yates was named a “Pioneer of Aviation” by the State of California.

***Visit Chip’s new website www.rockstarofscience.com to learn more about his education and outreach, his STEM speaking tours to schools, and other lecture opportunities.

Rockstar of Science Launches Speaker Website, Inspires Audiences

FLASH!  Announcing the launch of a new website http://www.rockstarofscience.com/ supporting aviator and 18-world record holder Chip Yates in bringing his spoken message of innovation to adult and youth audiences! Following the launch, Yates jumped into a fast-paced speaking tour to inspire audiences of all kinds. **Click to visit new website.

SOIC Address formatFebruary 28:   Yates delivered the keynote presentation at the 27th Annual Indian Wells Valley Economic Outlook Conference. (See prior post)

April 8:  Chip Yates held the podium at the NASA Space Center Houston as he captivated an audience of young finalist entrepreneurs and inventors for the 2014 Conrad Foundation Spirit of Innovation Challenge awards ceremony with his keynote “The Art of Pioneering.” Said Yates, “You are ALL winners. Now go execute your plans and make us proud!”Shannon Grove Fundraiser2

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April 10:  Leaving Houston, Yates packed up the world’s fastest eplane for his next keynote appearance at a fundraiser for CA Assemblywoman Shannon Grove at Epic Aviation Jet Center in Bakersfield, CA.  [Note: Yates’ presentation “The Art of Beating Giants” contributed to an unprecedented fundraising success.]

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April 16:  With hardly a pause, Yates next surfaced at his alma mater: USC’s Lloyd Grief Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, where he guest taught a graduate level case study challenge “Failures Fuel Innovation” that revealed secrets of successful entrepreneurship to MBA students.  “If I engineered as much as I yap, I might be pretty good!” said Yates.

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May 17:  The MAKER FAIRE!!

Appearing on the 2014 Maker Faire’s huge Center Stage in Palo Alto, CA, Yates presented to a standing room only audience how he made the world’s fastest eBike and ePlane in a garage! Yates told the enthusiastic audience: “My top 5 “makes” are 1) MAKE your dreams come true, 2) MAKE the stakes high, 3) MAKE to push your limits, 4) MAKE someone else a maker, and 5) MAKE an impact on the world.”  **Click to view Chip’s speech.

To visit the new Rockstar of Science website, click here.

  

 

Using Innovation to Survive and Thrive: Yates’ Economic Conference Keynote

 Photo: Aaron Crutchfield/Ridgecrest Daily Independent

Chip Yates, record-setting aviator, entrepreneur and founder of Yates Electrospace Corporation, fired up an audience of business owners, employers, local politicians, educators, and military officials in his keynote presentation at the 27th Annual Indian Wells Valley Economic Outlook Conference on February 28 in Ridgecrest, CA.

The theme of the conference was ‘Innovation’ and the organizers were thrilled to have Yates headlining the conference, said Ridgecrest ChamberEconomic Outlook Conference Ridgecrest of Commerce President/CEO Nathan Ahle. “He’s a dynamic speaker who has done some incredible things.”

In his presentation, “Go-Karts, Spaghetti Sauce, and Other Economic Indicators”, Yates referred to the recent eight world records set in his electric airplane to challenge the audience of key local stakeholders to embrace innovation, recognize opportunity, and look for creative approaches to problem solving, in order to keep the local economy strong. It’s not necessary to be the size of Los Angeles to be economically successful, Yates argued, pointing out how small and agile can be a benefit.

“Consider this,” he told attendees. “Imagine if my company had been in a race with Boeing, which has $87 million in revenues and 169,000 people. I have zero billion in revenues and three volunteers. If we had a race to create an airplane that could set these world records, who do you think would have won it? We would! That’s the power of not being too big, not being encumbered by bureaucracy.”

**Click for media coverage of the conference.

 

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With his small cadre of volunteers and with few resources, Yates has been the first human in history to break the 200-MPH mark in an electric airplane, and he has demonstrated repeated superiority over gasoline-powered aircraft in other record-setting achievements. Yates brings his story to audiences of all kinds, inspiring and motivating adults and young people to push their limits and not to fear risk.

**Click to view Yates’ recent TED talk “Risk is the Currency of Innovation.” 

**Contact us to inquire about a keynote address for your organization or school.

 

 

 

Yates Honored: NAA Announces Most Memorable Aviation Records of 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chip Yates One of Seven Record Setters Named to “Most Memorable Aviation Records of 2013” List by the National Aeronautic Association: 

 

After the World RecordsTIME TO CLIMB TO 3,000 METERS: 5 minutes 32 seconds Record for airplanes (electric motor, weighing 1,102 < 2,205 lbs) 

In a series of record attempts in the new electric motor classification, Chip Yates flew his lithium-ion battery powered Long-EZ from a standing start on Inyokern’s runway 15 to a height of 9,843 feet in 5 minutes, 32 seconds. His flight on November 24 broke his own record of 6 minutes, 28 seconds set earlier in the year.”    –National Aeronautic Association

The NAA will celebrate the most memorable aviation records and record-setters of 2013 at a special NAA Awards Ceremony in Arlington, VA, on March 18, 2014.  Click for a list of the seven records.

 

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NAA LogoAs the official record keeper for United States aviation, the National Aeronautic Association tracks dozens of world and national record attempts each year. New U.S. records are certified and those qualifying as world records are then ratified with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). At the end of each year, under the direction of the NAA Contest and Records Department, records certified for that year are reviewed and a list of the “most memorable” is created.

Testing Begins on World’s First Mid-Air Recharge of an Electric Plane

Photo: the Piper Charger that will carry the battery pack for in-flight recharging of the electric Long-ESA

Chip Yates has announced the winter-spring development and testing schedule for his groundbreaking world’s first mid-air recharge of an electric plane.

Yates’ now-famous Long-EZ (N89CY), popularly known as the all-electric world record setting Long-ESA (for “electric speed and altitude”), will be the flying testbed for UAV battery pack tethering, docking and shuttling technology and software development. The testing is the next step in Yates’ Lindbergh electric transatlantic flight planned for 2015-2016.

 

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“Flight testing begins this month, with the conversion of our newly purchased recharge plane – a heavy-lifting Piper Charger shown above- thatPiper Charger with Battery will need to carry a 600volt EnerDelPowered pack we’ve selected for the recharge,” says Yates. “If all goes well, we plan the first mid-air recharge for an April/May timeframe.”

Lithium Packs for Mid-Air RechargeYates says he has been building his team, including two new engineers, for this landmark electric aviation feat. Both the recharge plane and the electric Long-ESA are berthed at Inyokern in the Mojave Desert, where the conversion, installation and testing will take place. Inyokern has been the site of most of the 8 electric world records set by Yates and his team in the Long ESA.

 

Small photos: At left, 700 volts of EnerDelPowered Lithium packs going into the recharge plane.  At right, Piper Charger with batteries and view of e-plane in background.

Risk is the Currency of Innovation: See Yates’ 2013 TED Talk Live!

Two World RecordsTHIS FALL electric vehicle pioneer Chip Yates joined a distinguished 29-year lineup of speakers as part of the acclaimed international TED presentation series (Technology, Entertainment, Design). Yates was a featured speaker at the annual TEDx Conference on October 19 in Southampton, Bermuda.

**Click here to see Yates’ just-released riveting presentation in full!**

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One of the most spellbinding presenters around, Yates spoke on his rocket-fast journey to push electric transportation to the forefront, what it takes to be a pioneer in global improvement, and why failure is one of the critical elements to success and to reaching human potential. 

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Targeting his message to youth as well as adults, Yates spoke with humor, sincerity, and humility, igniting his audience with his passion and urging listeners to push their limits, expect setbacks, and rebound from failure. Yates is a passionate advocate of science IMG_99461-150x150and technology for youth, and a pioneer who never gives up, setting 16 world records to date, and establishing astonishing new platforms in electric vehicle technology. 

 

TED Presentations address a wide range of topics within the research of science and culture; past presenters include Nobel prize winners, distinguished innovators and other luminaries. Talks are livestreamed and some 1500 are available for free viewing online. By 2012 TED talks had been viewed one billion times.

 
Breaking the Bounds of Ordinary Thinking
 

Yates was nominated for this worldwide speaking honor by the Conrad Foundation, who said, “Chip Yates is the kind of person who wakes up in the morning thinking, ‘How can I make the world a better place—how can I make a difference?’

 

“Chip is a 16-time world record holder, enthusiastic speaker, innovator, entrepreneur, engineer, professional biker and pilot committed to breaking the boundaries of ordinary thinking. He’s an electric vehicle pioneer who pushes the edge of green technology advancement...”

 

STEM2**Click for info on Yates’ motivational STEM presentations to schools.