Abstract

Since 2020, Jason Welstead has been leading an effort to design and build a 1000-pound class electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) research asset at NASA called RAVEN (Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling techNologies). This activity has grown from a grass-roots effort with minimal funding to an activity in formal project formulation with significant budget support. This presentation aims to provide the audience an overview of NASA Aeronautics, the RAVEN activity and associated Open eVTOL subproject, and experiences gained at Auburn University and my professional career that enabled the successful advocacy of RAVEN.

Speaker

Dr. Jason Welstead

JDr. Jason Welstead joined the Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center in 2013 where his area of research focused on advanced commercial transport aircraft. In 2018, Dr. Welstead joined the Uber Elevate Vehicle Engineering Team where he performed UAM eVTOL aircraft conceptual design and sizing, vehicle sizing sensitivities of the Uber Elevate vehicle requirements leading to requirements changes, and partner support. After 2 years at Uber Elevate, Dr. Welstead rejoined the Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch in 2020 and is the branch Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles Group Lead. Dr. Welstead is a Tech Lead for the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project and the Deputy Principal Investigator for the RAVEN activity under the formulating Open eVTOL Subproject