Team Oracle, Airbus Team up to Build Flying Yacht
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Sunday, June 12, 2016
European planemaker Airbus Group SE has forged a technology partnership with Oracle Team USA as this championship sailing squad prepares to defend its title in the 2017 competition for America’s Cup – which is the oldest international sporting trophy of the modern era (born in 1851), and one of the most difficult to win.
As Official Innovation Partner of Oracle Team USA, Airbus is sharing the know-how of its experts in areas such as aerodynamics, instrumentation, simulation, composites, structures, hydraulics and data analysis; while simultaneously benefiting from the innovative approach of a world leader in sailing.
By taking on a project of this magnitude that combines extreme technology and sports, Airbus is stretching its competencies and further boosting the company’s agility.
And since there are so many similarities between the America’s Cup yacht and Airbus’ modern jetliners, each of the two partners benefit from an excellent platform on which to learn and grow.
For more than 160 years, the America’s Cup competition has shown that, while necessary, funding is not the primary factor in winning. This is why a much higher priority is put on design technology and engineering, which are two areas at which Airbus excels.