Whisper Aero's ultra-quiet electric engines complete first piloted flights

Whisper Aero has announced that its eQ250 electric ducted fan engines have powered piloted test flights for the first time. The company said two eQ250 units were fitted to a modified Aériane Swift 3 glider, referred to as the Whisper Powered Swift, and flown under a special airworthiness certification issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

According to Whisper Aero, test pilot Zac Majors carried out three flights in Tennessee totaling around 130 minutes, averaging roughly 43 minutes each. The company said the modified aircraft generated more thrust and operated more quietly than the standard propeller-equipped version of the glider, while retaining favorable handling characteristics. Majors was quoted by the company as saying he could maneuver the aircraft freely and was looking forward to further flights.

Whisper Aero said it plans to continue testing the Swift in Tennessee before moving to additional flight tests and evaluations with unspecified government customers later this year. The company noted it holds a contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a family of quiet, efficient, autonomous aircraft intended for contested logistics missions, with initial testing under that program planned for 2027.

The eQ250 is described as the flagship engine in Whisper's electric quiet (eQ) product line. The company said the unit can produce up to 85 pounds of static thrust for fixed-wing aircraft and can also be used to power smaller uncrewed aircraft systems. Whisper Aero said the 10-inch-diameter ducted fans produce about 20 decibels less noise than comparable quiet propulsion systems while being roughly 20 percent more efficient, and are designed to support short takeoff and landing performance.