US Naval Academy Midshipmen “AURORA – Vertical Lift Student Design Project” and “Investigation of Helicopter Performance in Confined Areas”

VFS Philly had the opportunity to hear from US Naval Academy midshipmen as they presented two of their capstone projects. The presentations were about AURORA, Arctic Unmanned Rapid Oil Response Aircraft, a design, build, and fly project to help track oil spills in Alaska, and Investigation of Helicopter Performance in Confined Areas, a further analysis of recent flight test activity completed at Pax River Test Pilot School to analyze the impact of confined spaces on operational safety.

The midshipmen traveled to Piasecki Aircraft and Boeing earlier in the day to tour the facilities and hear more about the history of vertical flight in Philadelphia.

The dinner also had a special guest, Angelo Collins, Vertical Flight Society’s new CEO, to replace Mike Hirschberg officially in May at the Forum.

A big thank you to Piasecki Aircraft for sponsoring the dinner meeting, as well!

Thoughts from the VFS Executive Director

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, VFS Philly had the incredible opportunity to hear from the Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society, Mike Hirschberg!

Aurora Technology Demonstrators and Boeing Modernization of Legacy Technologies

The most recent dinner meeting was presented by Matt Hutchison on Tuesday October 18, 2022 at the Towne Hall in Media, PA. The meeting had a large audience with employees from all over the Philadelphia region, including Boeing, Piasecki Aircraft, Leonardo, DFI, and many others.

PA-890 EVTOL Slowed Rotor Winged Compound and USNA Students

The Philly Chapter of VFS hosted a dinner meeting on April 12, 2022 and was held at the Town Hall in Media, PA. The dinner meeting included two presentations, one by Fred Piasecki on the PA-890 EVTOL Slowed Rotor Winged Compound, and the second by USNA Students on the Design of a VTOL UAS for Environmental Survey Above the Arctic Circle.