Whisper Aero Unveils a Leaf Blower at CES

Dean Sigler Announcements, Autonomous Aircraft, Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Whisper Aero has a unique way of showing its cards at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  The Crossville, Tennessee-based company has developed an ultra-quiet electric propulsor that could power aircraft of varying sizes.  While nine Red Bull cyclists recently towed an ultralight sailplane skyward, two Whisper units could launch an ultralight flying wing hang glider. Beta Testing in the Hood In what seems to be a clever and cagy move, Mark Moore and Ian Villa have created an electric leaf blower using their quiet technology.  Putting their demonstrably quieter Whiasper Tone T1 in customer’s hands will unleash thousands of beta testers for the device and the technology. Your editor was a bit taken aback by the blower’s $599 price, but after comparing the T1 to units with which it is competitve, realized the addage about getting what you pay for is true in this instance.  The video below is a good comparison with other similar products.  Whisper …

Piper Germany and the MDA1 Electric Commuter

Dean Sigler Announcements, Electric Powerplants, Sky Taxis, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Flieger magazine reports, “Piper Deutschland AG has announced a strategic investment in MD Aircraft GmbH . The goal of the collaboration is to advance the development and production of the all-electric regional aircraft MDA1 eViator.” (Note: based on later reporting, the power bays may be incorporated into the lower part of the fuselage.  The blog will attempt to gain verification of this.) Signed on September 19, 2025, the agreement “is intended to mark the start of a new chapter in aviation for Piper – with a focus on innovation and environmental sustainabilit,” according to Flieger. Providing MD the financial stability of Piper’s funding and for Piper the planned design for a twin-motored commuter liner in the size and performance range familiar to established Piper customers, the compact should be beneficial to both companies. The MDA1 Aircraft An “all-electric short-haul aircraft with a range of up to 400 kilometers (248 miles),” The MDA1 should suit the needs of most regional commuter lines internationally. We wrote …

Following More Money

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Hybrid Aircraft, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

With Uber backing several potential urban flyers, other investors are moving to invest in longer-range craft with smaller, but more exclusive markets. Zunum and JetSuite Sign a Sweet Deal With funding from Boeing’s Horizon X and Jet Blue Technology Ventures, and Washington State’s Clean Energy Fund,  Zunum Aero’s initial batch of hybrid electric aircraft will fly in the livery of JetSuite, a private aviation company that’s a partner of JetBlue Airways. JetSuite’s current offerings include aircraft, “Ranging from the four-passenger Embraer Phenom 100s to the large-cabin, 13-passenger Legacy 650 to our JetSuiteX edition, 30-seat Embraer 135s, the JetSuite fleet offers our clients a variety of options for their aviation needs.” https://vimeo.com/270392646 Members and customers can find scheduled flights within JetSuiteX’s California and Arizona operating range.  Prices are similar to business class accommodations on Southwest or Alaska airlines.  It will be interesting to see if lower operating costs for Zunum’s regional hybrids pencil out in customer’s favor.  For example, Zunum says, ”A …