Our mission is to strengthen university research capabilities; provide applied learning
opportunities for students; and support the aviation and manufacturing industries
— while driving innovation and prosperity for the community, region and state.
Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) is adding
a new capability to its portfolio aimed at growing the electric vertical take-off
and landing (eVTOL) market and attracting new business to the region and state.
Recently, NIAR broke ground on a new restrained flight test facility, which will include
out-of-ground and in-ground effect test rigs.
The facility will provide eVTOL developers with a controlled environment for conducting
restrained operation of test vehicles for research and testing to assess thrust characteristics,
aerodynamics, system performance and failure conditions.
The facility features a 28-by-14-foot elevated test rig and a 20-by-20-foot ground
level test rig with six-axis load cells, data acquisition systems and real-time data
monitoring capabilities via a mission control room, allowing eVTOL manufacturers to
evaluate vehicle system and aerodynamic performance.
The facility, which is located at Air Capital Flight Line on South Oliver in Wichita,
is made possible through the Kansas Aviation Research and Testing Growth Initiative
(KART), a program funded by the State of Kansas to strengthen aircraft industry technologies
in the state.
Textron eAviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company focused on sustainable
aviation solutions, is anticipating use of the facility upon completion and has served
as a collaborator on the development.
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with NIAR on the development of this test facility,
as its design will allow us to simulate key aspects of the flight environment for
our Nexus eVTOL,” said Kriya Shortt, president and CEO of Textron eAviation. “With
the build of our first full-scale technology demonstrator underway and anticipated
first flight for the Nexus in 2025, this hover ramp will support an important program
milestone on our path to certification.”
Textron eAviation’s Nexus eVTOL is being designed to serve a range of purposes, including
passenger transport, cargo and emergency medical services markets.
In addition to the new restrained flight test facility, NIAR supports eVTOL R&D programs
through existing capabilities including material development, environmental and electromagnetic
test, full-scale structural test and impact testing. Most recently, NIAR’s Advanced
Virtual Engineering and Test lab completed battery pack drop tests on the electric
propulsion system of Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft.
Electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle development programs are some of the
newest and most active in the aerospace industry. According to JPMorgan, the eVTOL
industry could be worth $1 trillion by 2040.
Completion of the restrained flight test facility is expected in late 2024.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling
more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students
from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech
are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
