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 into a wing's airfoil to provide "runway independence" for various aircraft, from air taxis to military transporters.
The JetFoil enables near-vertical takeoffs with just a 50-foot ground roll, requiring less than half the thrust of traditional VTOL designs, and offers benefits such as increased range and payload.
Led by experienced aerospace professionals, Whisper Aero is collaborating with U.S. government agencies (Air Force, Navy, NASA) to develop and flight-test JetFoil-equipped prototypes, targeting both defense and future commercial air mobility applications.
The system achieves efficient, near-vertical takeoff by redirecting airflow over the wing using a simple flap to generate passive lift, while also being designed for quiet operation and resistance to stalls and turbulence.

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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.