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, designed to enable runway independence (short or vertical takeoff) for diverse aircraft, from electric air taxis to military transporters.
The JetFoil integrates ultraquiet electric engines and ducted fans along a wing's leading edge, facilitating takeoffs with as little as 50 feet of ground roll using less thrust than tilting propulsors, while offering benefits like increased payload/range and reduced noise.
Whisper Aero, led by CEO Mark Moore (formerly of NASA and Uber Elevate), is partnering with government agencies including the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and NASA to develop and test prototypes, with plans to transition the technology to commercial manufacturers for broader market adoption.

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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.