Many years ago I learnt to fly hang gliders. Along the journey, one of the most outstanding experiences is to get to cloud base. Being out in the open, on a silent wing in the vaulted mist is one of the most awesome feelings imaginable. To get there within minutes of launching from the normal world and climbing on nature’s energy is exhilarating. But it is almost always solitary. There may be other gliders around, and perhaps in radio contact, but you know you are alone. In a conventional sailplane, you are shielded, inside a shell. How wonderful to reach out and touch the cloud, to be immersed. Well I’d like more people to experience this wonder, and I’d like them to be able to share it in company with their friends. I believe a sailplane with an open roof and club seating for six people is feasible. I believe it should be done, to bring more people in a social setting to touch the clouds. Now why not allow them to do so, whilst amid this wilderness, yet to be comfortable, of course there must be some amenities. And so why not a café, coffee and muffins, why not tea and scones at cloudbase!

Yes, it is possible. Present day sailplanes are amazing high performance flying machines which utilise the most advanced aerospace design. All the same design, materials and manufacturing techniques are suitable to take gliding to the next level, multi-seat pleasure cruising. We can take advantage of modern design and construction technology to create a new class of aircraft, with ultimate levels of safety and luxury and yet harking back to an older era, open air, face in the breeze, flying with all the mod-cons.

Somehow, in the race toward efficiency and performance, gliders left people behind. Most designs were for competition, 2 seaters were all that were considered necessary for training purposes, while the lack of smooth and efficient auxiliary propulsion made it difficult to accommodate more people in a larger craft. We now have new turbo-electric motors which can safely and quietly propel larger aircraft, so we can easily launch and return home to base.

During 5 years university research on the potential of hybrid-electric powerplants for aircraft use, Richard realised the time has come. Electric aircraft are in development all around the world, companies such as Boeing, Siemens and many smaller aircraft manufacturers have projects under way. Yet no other developer has ever offered the Cloudbase Café…

You may think that $5M is too much, or not enough to create this machine. Aircraft projects are always difficult to accurately cost. However we know that this is a realistic goal. We know that this machine can be created with this budget. The design has progressed form Concept into Preliminary phase. Always, the Technical Requirements will be met with adherence to the Aesthetic Attributes in design. All true design is a unification of Art and Science, this project embraces and harnesses the best in these creative processes to liberate a machine which transcends.

Upon reaching the target funding, suitable world class manufacturers and designers will be offered roles to complete detail design and prepare for production. While most of the requisite technologies are fully mature, and modern computerised techniques enhance rapid development, it will realistically take at least 2 years to see prototype aircraft entering certification. In addition to nominated rewards, supporters will be kept up to date with the process as it unfolds. This will be a spectacular journey.

Keep up to date about progress on this awesome project here;

http://cloudbasecafesystems.blogspot.com.au/