In 2007, the UK's Civil Airworthiness Authority de-regulated light aircraft. The Light Aircraft Association organised a design competition for aircraft for this new class and Cambridge aeronautical engineers Giotto Castelli and Tony Bishop won the state-of-the-art category with their e-Go design. Since then, the project has been joined by Cambridge University research staff and students, specialists from local aerospace companies, pilots, and light aircraft builders.

Over 100 pilots have expressed an interest in buying the aircraft even though it doesn't go on sale for more than a year.

To achieve high strength and performance with low weight, the e-Go uses carbon fiber, foam, and advanced materials. It will take off from short grass strips, cruise at over 100 knots (115 mph, 185 kph) for 400 miles, and climb at about 1000 feet per minute. And it'll do all this at about 80 mpg!

The design was completed this summer after extensive computer simulations, wind tunnel tests and structural tests. Work is now underway on building the prototype, which should be completed by mid 2010.

For more information, see www.e-Go.me.