GoFly Prize Invites Innovators to Shape Future of Flight, Compete for $1.8M in Prizes

September 26, 2018

Courtney E. Howard

Shape the future of flight while competing for a share of $1.8 million in prizes. SAE International, an organizational partner of the Boeing-sponsored GoFly Prize international competition, invites members, inventors, and engineers to build a personal flying device with the potential to change the future of mobility.

GoFly Prize was first announced at SAE International's AeroTech Congress & Exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas, in September 2017. SAE International's AeroTech Americas will take place in Charleston, S.C., in March 2019.

The goal of The GoFly Prize is to foster the development of safe, quiet, ultra-compact personal flying devices capable of near vertical take-off and landing ( VTOL ). GoFly teams have won $200,000 in prizes to date, but another $1,800,000 in prizes are still up for grabs.

“If you have not yet joined the competition, now is the time to do so,” GoFly organizers say. “If you are interested in changing the world, you can find more information about how to participate at www.herox.com/gofly .”

GoFly is calling on all inventors and innovators to make human flight a reality by building the world’s first personal flying device for anyone, anywhere.

Launched in September 2017, The GoFly Prize is a two-year competition where teams will leverage recent advances in propulsion, energy, lightweight materials, and control and stability systems to make the dream of personal flight a reality. The competition will award prize money of $2 million to participating teams in a variety of categories.

Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), is the exclusive Disruptor Award sponsor of The GoFly Prize. As a sponsor, Pratt & Whitney will present the Disruptor Award, a $100,000 prize, to the team that is truly innovative, who has gone beyond in developing their personal flying device for the competition. With the Disruptor Award, Pratt & Whitney recognizes innovation unmatched by any other competitor, so that true originality is rewarded.

“We have been on the front lines of innovation for more than 90 years, and we are excited to see what the participating teams will develop, test, and successfully execute during this competition,” says David Carter, senior vice president, engineering, Pratt & Whitney.

The winner of the Pratt & Whitney Disruptor Award will be announced at GoFly’s Final Fly-Off event in October 2019.

GoFly participation is now open. Options include forming a new team, continuing with a current team, joining an existing team, or being matched with a team.

Visit www.herox.com/gofly or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make your mark on the future of flight.

Courtney E. Howard is editorial director and content strategist at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group. Contact her by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..