Overview
- Whisper publicly released lab-derived claims on June 2, 2026 that its JetFoil-equipped wing resists stall and can sustain lift at very low speeds, a result the company says enables near‑VTOL behavior.
- Company data reported at SAE AeroTech include a 50‑foot ground‑roll takeoff case and very high lift coefficients in specific test scenarios, but those figures come from lab testing and await independent or flight validation.
- The JetFoil places many high‑blade‑count ducted fans across the wing leading edge and uses upper‑surface blowing and flow turning to generate lift while shifting blade tone into ultrasonic frequencies for near‑inaudible operation.
- Whisper announced a partnership with Mach Industries to pursue the Defense Innovation Unit RIMES ship‑launched drone work and said it has contracts or talks with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and NASA, with Air Force CLA flight testing planned for 2027.
- If validated in flight, the technology could let existing and new aircraft achieve runway independence with lower thrust needs, quieter flight over communities, and new options for ship‑launched and logistics drones.