SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Airport will be hosting George Bye of Bye Aerospace in during a public event for the future of electric flight on Satuday, January 20.
Bye Aerospace was first founded by George Bye in 2007 and is based in Colorado. The company specializes in purely electric modes of air transport, joining the many companies that have switched to electric energy to combat climate change.
Bye has over two decades of experience as an aerospace entrepreneur and executive. He designed various vehicles, including the “Sun Flyer” family of 2- to 4-seater planes, and two new solar-powered hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The event will be held at the Santa Monica Airport and the Museum of Flight. Bye will be speaking at 10 a.m. at the museum.
The city of Santa Monica has taken many steps toward electric use in the city. A Tesla store was opened on the Promenade, electric bikes are rented out on the streets and people can take electrically-powered rides from the company Free Ride. Bye hopes to add to this list with his planes.
“Our particular sensitivity to noise, to pollutants, the CO2 and emissions from Avgas consumption that are relatively unique compared to a ground vehicle and of course the cost,” Bye told the SMDP. “It’s such a difference in cost, the benefits of the vehicle, the performance, the noise, the pollutants, together with the lower operating costs is a gigantic opportunity and advantage.
The Museum of Flight will have special admission which will begin at 9:30 am. It will cost $5 to enter.
