CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION
By the Honorable Shannon L. Grove,
32nd Assembly District; Relative to commending
Chip Yates
Whereas, In recognition of his record-breaking flight at Inyokern Airport on July 19, 2012, Chip Yates is deserving of the special honors and highest commendations of the people of California; and
Whereas, by breaking the 200-mile-per-hour barrier for the first time, achieving a speed of 202.6 miles per hour while flying his company, Flight of the Century’s (FOTC), all-electric Long-ESA (Electric Speed and Altitude), Chip Yates earned distinction as the world’s fastest electric aircraft pilot, marking the second time within the past 12 months that he has exceeded 200 miles per hour in an electric vehicle of his own design; and
Whereas, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of FOTC, Chip Yates purchased the highly modified Rutan Long-EZ (now known as Long-ESA) in April 2012 as an R&D plane for the development of the company’s patented mid-air recharging technology, and at FOTC headquarters, the aircraft underwent a complete restoration and conversion from gasoline power to all-electric power in two months; and
Whereas, Chip Yates, who also holds the Guinness World Record title of World’s Fastest Electric Motorcycle, earning the distinction while riding a roadracing superbike that earned eight official FIM World Records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in September 2011, and the unprecedented test program then moved to FOTC’s Inyokern Airport facility, with a first taxi test taking place on July 14, first runway test on July 16, first flight on July 18, and world-record flight on July 19; and
Whereas, FOTC is engaged in a cooperative relationship with the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which deployed high speed telemetry, radar, and tracking cameras to capture Chip Yates’ historic flight adjacent to its restricted airspace, and after the flight, officials from China Lake visited the FOTC hangar at Inyokern Airport to corroborate the flight data and officially recognize his world-record; and
Whereas, The people of California join other Americans in applauding the accomplishments of Chip Yates, who has distinguished himself as a pioneer in the field of aviation, and who possesses the qualities necessary to face the challenges of the unknown; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by Assembly Member Shannon L. Grove, That she congratulates Chip Yates on his record-breaking flight and his distinction as the world’s fastest electric aircraft pilot, and extends sincere best wishes for continued success in his future endeavors.
Members Resolution No. 1740
Dated this 19th day of July, 2012
//Shannon L. Grove//
Honorable Shannon L. Grove
32nd Assembly District