Design of the VH-3 Powered Speedbird Hybrid AAM Demonstrator

VerdeGo proposes to complete the preliminary design of a novel Speedbird Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) demonstrator aircraft with a VH-3 powered hybrid electric powertrain and conduct hardware in the loop testing to demonstrate the VH-3 performance and capability across relevant mission profiles. The results will show the benefits of hybrid electric powerplants combined with distributed electric propulsion that can be applied across a range of potential future NASA, DoD, and commercial applications. The VH-3 is a highly efficient and fully integrated hybrid powerplant that can be easily integrated into multiple aircraft configurations and is compatible with Jet A or SAF to enable significant reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, and noise. The proposed Speedbird demonstrator aircraft is a conversion of an established helicopter with conventional avgas engine and mechanically driven rotors, into a hybrid Vertical TakeOff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft with distributed electric propulsion. The proposed design effort will define the aircraft modifications, mission requirements, sizing and location of the distributed electric propulsion system, and integration of the VH-3 powerplant. The demonstration phase will quantify the potential benefits in hybrid aircraft performance and mission capabilities, fuel consumption and emissions reduction, noise, and operating costs vs the existing conventional design and validate VH-3 performance across the defined mission profiles using VerdeGo’s testing facilities. Successful completion of this effort enables follow-on development and test of the Speedbird demonstrator and hybrid electric powertrain, as well as the ability to apply the design and modeling tools developed and validated during this effort to a wide range of electrified aircraft designs to optimize the performance and utility of hybrid electric propulsion in AAM.

Sustainable flight demonstrators in NASA's Integrated Aviation Systems Program such as a sub-scale SUSAN concept. A leverage of the X-57 concept on the benefits of hybridization. Potential other NASA initiatives include the Tranformative Aeronautics Concepts Program and Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology Program. Multiple AAM flight vehicle configurations including eVTOL, eSTOL, and CTOL as demonstrated in VerdeGo's 2023 NASA Ignite Phase I effort in the 200-400kW (single and twin VH-3 applications) power class including military and commercial applications.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.