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The article (and wiki page linked in another comment) seem to indicate that this vehicle design already proved it can go faster than the wind over 10 years ago.

Odd that the professor was so keen on betting in that case.

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The professor's reasoning is near the start of the video about the bet [1]. Basically they thought the makers of blackbird were fooling themselves (e.g. measuring slower wind at the bottom of the car vs the top of the propeller, or getting pushed above the average wind speed by gusts then selectively reporting).

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCsgoLc_fzI

$10.000 got donated and a lot of publicity created. I think it is just good marketing. Dunno if it is worth 10k but it got on HN a few times, so it undoubtedly works. And the topic itself is super interesting!

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