Mayman Aerospace receives grant for Speeder VTOL

The Other Transaction Authority (OTA) funding, awarded by the Department of Defense (DoD), will support further research and development on the Speeder VTOL. The work will be done under an 18-month contract with the DoD, with options under the OTA framework to enable access to additional funding increments.

The research and development will include work on both the aircraft itself and on associated technologies – particularly those with a DoD context. This will include exploring the use of autonomous navigation systems on the Speeder.

“This funding speaks to the DoD’s confidence in the Speeder aircraft and the associated technology Mayman Aerospace is developing,” said David Mayman, CEO and Founder of Mayman Aerospace. “The funding accelerates our development schedule and increases our visibility within the US military, supporting the program’s progress. It’s an extremely significant moment for the company and our team, and we’re excited by the possibilities this brings.”

Mayman Aerospace was also previously a recipient of a $1.25 million US Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct to Phase II grant under the AFWERX/Agility Prime innovation initiative.

The Speeder is a turbine-powered, one-person-crewed VTOL which is designed for use in ‘government, military, critical cargo, wildland firefighting, and disaster response’ missions. Mayman argues that its compact size allows for ‘easy transport’, while the short preparation times for flight mean that it is ‘always available and mission-ready’.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a set of proposed rules for the safe operation of VTOL aircraft last month.