2026 Transformative Vertical Flight

Vertical Lift Aircraft Design and Aeromechanics Specialists' Conference

The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter has been holding a biennial conference since 1974. This year, the focus will be on integrated technical disciplines including aerodynamics, acoustics, dynamics, and flight dynamics, together with advanced aircraft design. 

The abstract submission phase of the Aircraft Design & Aeromechanics technical conference has now closed. Authors will be notified of acceptance or non-acceptance very soon. TVF Call for Papers 2026

Papers will cover topics related to rotorcraft/VTOL aeromechanics, including both crewed and uncrewed vertical flight aircraft, design challenges of electric VTOL for advanced and urban air mobility (AAM/UAM), and planetary rotorcraft. Topics of interest include:

• Design of vehicles and subsystems
• Advancements in aeromechanics analytical methods and theory
• Results from ground based and in-flight experimental testing and simulation
• Design, modeling, simulation and testing of electric, hydrogen and hybrid powertrains
• Practical application of digital engineering technologies
• Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to design, optimization, testing and modeling
• Downwash and outwash modeling and testing 

13^th Annual Electric VTOL Symposium

Running in parallel with the Aeromechanics conference, the eVTOL Symposium will feature invited presentations, panel sessions and discussions by leaders in this exciting field. This event is an excellent opportunity to learn about and discuss the latest advances in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and the challenges that remain. Invited presentations from all areas of eVTOL will be discussed, from researchers and leaders in academia, industry, and government agencies from around the globe, and cover all-electric, hybrid-electric, and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems.

This is a unique opportunity for designers, developers, innovators, investors, regulators, infrastructure providers, end users, media, and key influencers to share knowledge and work towards realizing the eVTOL revolution. This is also a tremendous networking opportunity for those new to the VTOL industry. 

The Vertical Flight Society has been leading efforts in eVTOL since 2013, with more than a decade of eVTOL Symposiums, the Electric VTOL News website, featuring the comprehensive World eVTOL Aircraft Directory, and the fortnightly eVTOL Newsletter, begun in 2016. 

Registration Rates: registration opening soon.

Thank you to our VFS members who have volunteered to help organize this event!

• General Chair: Dr. Oliver Wong, US Army DEVCOM AvMC, Moffett Field, CA
• Aeromechanics Specialists’ Conference Technical Chair: Dr. Jeff Sinsay, US Army DEVCOM AvMC, Moffett Field, CA
• eVTOL Symposium Technical Chair: Ms. Sarah Conley, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA