The next frontier in green transportation is bound to be flight travel, which is why it is not surprising to see that NASA just announced the Green Flight Challenge. The competition will be awarding a prize of $1.5 million to the first plane to achieve 100 miles per hour, for 200 miles. That may not sound that impressive until you realize that the plane must achieve an efficiency of 200 passenger miles per gallon – not an easy feat!

The competition, which is sponsored by NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Efficiency Foundation, runs through 2011 and the results will be held at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa. The challenge is expected to promote mechanical, electrical, and even aerodynamic advances. And it will definitely be one to keep an eye out for, as a number of experimental vehicles are expected to show up to try and win the prize.

Who will win? No guesses yet, but we will definitely let you know and keep you updated on any entrants.

+ NASA

+ Comparative Aircraft Efficiency Foundation

+ NASA and CAFE Announce Green Aircraft Challenge

Lead image of the Solar Impulse airplane