NASA, Uber Veterans Aim to Reduce S/VTOL Noise to a Whisper

Whisper Aero says its JetFoil enables conventional, short, or vertical takeoff and landing in the same form factor.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Whisper Aero’s JetFoil integrates electric ducted fan engines in the leading edge of a wing airfoil to enable quiet, near-vertical takeoff. [Credit: Whisper Aero]

Key Takeaways:

Whisper Aero unveiled its JetFoil propulsion system, which integrates ultraquiet electric engines and ducted fans onto an aircraft wing to enable runway independence for conventional, short, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The JetFoil allows for takeoffs with as little as 50 feet of ground roll, consuming significantly less thrust than traditional VTOL designs and offering potential benefits in payload and range over tilt-propulsor systems.
The system is designed to be stall-proof, resistant to wind and turbulence, and reduces jet noise by redirecting airflow over the wing for passive lift.
Whisper Aero is collaborating with U.S. government customers, including the Air Force, Navy, and NASA, to validate JetFoil-equipped prototypes for military and future commercial applications.

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Quiet aviation propulsion system developer Whisper Aero on Tuesday unveiled a system designed to enable runway independence for conventional, short, or vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, from electric air taxis to military transporters.

Whisper last year unveiled its JetFoil propulsion system—which integrates the company’s “ultraquiet” electric engines and ducted fan system on a wing’s airfoil—for autonomous military platforms. At SAE International’s AeroTech 2026 event in Florida this week, the firm said the JetFoil could enable takeoffs with just 50 feet of ground roll using less than half the thrust of VTOL designs that use tilting propulsors. That covers many eVTOL (electric VTOL) air taxi concepts.