Blackbird is an experimental wind-powered vehicle, built in 2010 to demonstrate that it is possible for such a vehicle to go directly downwind faster than the wind (sometimes abbreviated as DDWFTTW). Blackbird employs a rotor connected to the wheels and does not have a motor, battery, or flywheel.[1] It was constructed by Rick Cavallaro and John Borton of Sportvision, sponsored by Google and Joby Energy in association with the San Jose State University aeronautics department.
In a test supervised and recognized by the North American Land Sailing Association in July 2010, Cavallaro achieved a speed of 27.7 mph (44.6 km/h) sailing directly downwind in 10 mph (16 km/h) winds: almost three times the speed of the wind.[2][3][4][5] In 2012, Blackbird also demonstrated sailing directly upwind with twice the speed of the wind.