Whisper Aero
Whisper Aero is a Crossville, Tennessee-based electric propulsion company that designs and manufactures ultra-quiet ducted fan systems (eQ120/eQ160/eQ250) for defense drones, eVTOL and regional aircraft, and licenses consumer WhisperDrive technology to outdoor power equipment OEMs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersCrossville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Whisper Aero does
Whisper Aero is a privately held US electric propulsion company headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee, with an engineering office in Nashville. Founded in 2020–2021 by Mark Moore (former NASA Distributed Electric Propulsion lead and Uber Elevate co-founder) and Ian Villa (former Northrop Grumman Advanced Design), the company designs and manufactures UltraQuiet electric ducted fan (EDF) propulsion systems marketed under the eQ120, eQ160, and eQ250 product family. The core technology uses a high-blade-count fan with tensioned blades on the outer shroud to push blade passage frequency into the ultrasonic range, yielding 20 dB lower noise and 20%+ higher efficiency versus comparable systems while scaling from 5 to 500+ lbf of thrust at airspeeds of 40–400+ knots. A complementary integration concept called JetFoil embeds multiple propulsors along a wing's leading edge to deliver high lift coefficients for STOL operations.
The company sells through four revenue streams: (1) direct hardware sales of eQ propulsors to defense integrators (US Air Force, Navy, Army, SOCOM, DIU) and aviation/airframe OEMs under programs including STRATFI, OECIF, and the RIMES maritime program with Mach Industries; (2) government R&D contracts including NASA SBIR for spacecraft cabin ventilation; (3) technology licensing of the consumer-grade WhisperDrive platform to OEMs such as Stanley Black & Decker for outdoor power equipment; and (4) direct-to-consumer sales under the Tone sub-brand, with the T1 handheld leaf blower priced at $599–$699 (pre-orders opened January 2026, shipping September 2026) and a tow-behind blower for commercial grounds maintenance. Whisper Aero achieved AS9100D and ISO9001 certification in May 2025 and operates an 8,000 sq ft flight test center at Crossville Memorial Airport, with a planned 130,000 sq ft manufacturing and testing facility in partnership with Tennessee Tech.
Whisper Aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Whisper Aero
- Legal name
- Whisper Aero
- Website
- https://whisper.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Whisper Aero is a Crossville, Tennessee-based electric propulsion company that designs and manufactures ultra-quiet ducted fan systems (eQ120/eQ160/eQ250) for defense drones, eVTOL and regional aircraft, and licenses consumer WhisperDrive technology to outdoor power equipment OEMs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Whisper Aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Propulsion Systems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
- SIC
- Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Turbofan Engines (IMABADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD), Inlets, Nacelles & Thrust Reversers (IMABADAM)
Keywords
Where Whisper Aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Crossville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Whisper Aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electric Propulsion Hardware Sales: Sale of UltraQuiet electric propulsion systems (eQ120, eQ160, eQ250) to defense and aviation customers. Direct sales to DoD integrators and airframe OEMs.
- Consumer Products (Tone Brand): Sale of T1 handheld leaf blower and future outdoor power equipment under Tone brand directly to consumers and commercial operators.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing WhisperDrive technology to OEMs like Stanley Black & Decker for integration into their product portfolio. OEM partnerships for outdoor power equipment.
- Government R&D Contracts: Funding from DoD contracts (STRATFI, OECIF, DIU), NASA SBIR contracts, and state grants for propulsion technology development and testing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | T1 Leaf Blower - Canyon Sage |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | T1 Leaf Blower - Limited Edition |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | T1 Pilot Program |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Whisper Aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Whisper Aero designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-quiet electric ducted fan propulsion systems under the eQ series (eQ120, eQ160, eQ250), scaling from 5 to 500+ lbs of thrust for drones, eVTOLs, regional aircraft, and defense applications. The company also offers the JetFoil wing-integrated propulsion concept for STOL aircraft, WhisperDrive-scaled commercial propulsion technology, and the Tone consumer brand for quiet outdoor power equipment such as the T1 leaf blower and electric tow-behind blower.
Product overview
Whisper Aero is an electric propulsion company developing ultra-quiet, efficient, and scalable propulsion systems. The core technology is the UltraQuiet Electric Propulsion system (eQ series engines: eQ120, eQ160, eQ250) which can be integrated via JetFoil into various aircraft platforms. The product portfolio spans defense applications (UltraQuiet ISR Drone, Next-Gen Caravan, Collaborative Logistics Aircraft family), aviation concepts (Whisper Jet for 2030, Whisper Jetliner for 2050), commercial products (Tone T1 Leaf Blower, Electric Tow Behind Blower), and space applications (Space Cabin Ventilation Fan). The company also operates the Tone consumer sub-brand for outdoor air management products. All propulsion systems are manufactured in Tennessee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tone: Whisper Aero's first consumer brand delivering quiet, high-performing outdoor tools. Launched with the T1 Quiet Leaf Blower, positioned as a premium lifestyle-driven brand combining power with respect for people and spaces.
- UltraQuiet
- WhisperDrive
- JetFoil
Products and services
- eQ120 Electric Quiet Engine A lower-thrust eQ series electric ducted fan propulsor delivering 5+ lbf thrust with a 5-inch fan diameter and less than 35 dBA at 100 feet, designed for commercial leaf blowers, delivery drones, and attritable defense assets.
- eQ160 Electric Quiet Engine A mid-thrust eQ series electric ducted fan propulsor designed to propel Group 1 and Group 2 drones at high speeds with low acoustic footprint, delivering 10+ lbf thrust with a 6-inch fan diameter and less than 37 dBA at 100 feet.
- eQ250 Electric Quiet Engine A higher-thrust eQ series electric ducted fan propulsor designed for drones and fixed-wing aircraft, delivering 70+ lbf thrust with a 10-inch fan diameter and engineered to be distortion tolerant even for embedded integrations such as JetFoil.
- Tone T1 Leaf Blower World's quietest high-powered handheld leaf blower powered by aerospace-grade UltraQuiet propulsion technology, producing 880 CFM and 25 newtons of blowing force at only 52 dB(A) at 50 feet, 80% quieter than gas handhelds and 60% more powerful than leading battery blowers. Sold under the Tone consumer brand with $599 Canyon Sage and $699 Silence Is Golden limited edition variants, including a 54V 5.0Ah Li-ion battery with up to 50 minutes Eco mode runtime.
- Electric Tow-Behind Blower (WhisperDrive-powered) An electric tow-behind blower powered by WhisperDrive technology that delivers 250N of performance while operating under 65 dBA. Combines multiple WhisperDrive units and targets golf course cleanup, commercial landscape management, and highway debris removal.
- Space Cabin Ventilation Fan A NASA SBIR-funded ultra-quiet, ultra-efficient fan designed for spacecraft cabin ventilation and space habitat environmental control systems. Phase I targets 75% efficiency with 61 dB Overall Sound Pressure Level for crewed space environments, with potential extension into additional space habitat applications.
- Collaborative Logistics Aircraft (CLA) Family A family of autonomous logistics aircraft for contested environments including CLA Light (500 lbm payload, 200 NM range) and CLA Heavy (3,000 lbm payload, 800 NM range), powered by JetFoil integration of eQ250 propulsors. Funded by US Air Force STRATFI and OECIF contracts and unveiled at SOF Week 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20 dB quieter than comparable propulsion systems
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Whisper Aero
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Whisper Aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Whisper Aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Electric Power Systems (EPS)corePartnership to combine Whisper's electric ducted fans with EPS EPiC batteries for certifiable powertrains on Part 23 aircraft. Joint team developing retrofit Part 23 concept with eQ250 propulsors and JetFoil integration. EPS EPiC 1.0 and 2.0 batteries powering glider demonstrations.
- Stanley Black & DeckercoreLicensing WhisperDrive technology for integration into Stanley Black & Decker's outdoor power equipment product portfolio. Collaboration to bring aerospace-engineered quiet technology to consumer market.
- First ResonancecoreSelected ION Factory OS as manufacturing execution system for production ramp. Real-time analytics and inspection checkpoints to reduce cycle times. Supports AS9100 certification requirements.
- Mach IndustriescoreStrategic partnership for Atlas aircraft development under DIU RIMES program. Whisper provides JetFoil propulsion technology for hybrid-electric VTOL unmanned aircraft with 1,000-pound payload over 1,400 nautical miles.
- Tennessee Tech Universitycore$500K TNGO award partnership for Whisper Ultralight electric glider development. Four students and faculty supporting ground testing and safe integration of engines, batteries, and controllers.
- NASAcoreSBIR contract for ultra-quiet, ultra-efficient fans for spacecraft cabin ventilation. Six-month Phase I effort with NASA engineers to design quietest fan for crewed space environments.
- ReConnecTN CoalitioncoreMulti-entity coalition including Whisper Aero, JSX, Reliable Robotics, AvPorts, HOK, TDOT, Azure Flight Support, Tennessee Tech, Oak Ridge National Labs, PowerUp America. Working to bring Regional Air Mobility to Tennessee.
- JSXminorReConnecTN coalition member - hop-on jet service interested in electric aviation for regional air mobility.
- HOKminorReConnecTN coalition member - design firm reimagining regional airports as mobility hubs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Whisper Aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Archer Aviation: Archer Aviation develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air mobility, partnering with United Airlines and Stellantis. Competes with Whisper Aero in the eVTOL propulsion supplier landscape and shares the same advanced air mobility regulatory pathway.
- Joby Aviation: Joby Aviation is a leading eVTOL aircraft developer pursuing FAA certification for electric air taxi service. Both companies target electric propulsion for advanced air mobility, with Whisper supplying ducted fan propulsors and Joby integrating complete tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft.
- Eviation Aircraft: Eviation Aircraft developed the Alice, a fully electric commuter aircraft designed for regional flight. Directly comparable as an electric propulsion-driven regional aircraft developer targeting similar Part 23 certification pathways and use cases.
- Beta Technologies: Beta Technologies builds electric conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft for cargo and passenger regional mobility, with in-house electric propulsion. Whisper Aero's Brian Klinka previously established systems engineering at Beta, making it a directly comparable e-aircraft peer with overlapping talent and certification strategies.
- magniX: magniX manufactures electric propulsion systems (motors and motor controllers) for commercial fixed-wing aircraft retrofits and new designs. Closely comparable as a peer electric aviation propulsion supplier serving the same Part 23 retrofit and clean aviation markets.
- Lilium: Lilium is developing the Lilium Jet, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft using electric ducted fan technology. Directly comparable to Whisper in the use of ducted fan propulsion architecture for eVTOL flight and shares the same target markets in regional air mobility.
- ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia develops hydrogen-electric powertrain systems for regional commercial aircraft, targeting zero-emission aviation. Comparable as a peer developer of alternative propulsion technologies pursuing FAA certification and commercial aviation partnerships.
- Wisk Aero: Wisk Aero is a Boeing-owned autonomous eVTOL developer working on self-flying air taxi service. Directly comparable as a competitor in electric propulsion-driven urban and regional air mobility, with a similar target use case of quiet, autonomous flight.
Broad incumbents
- EGO Power+: EGO Power+ is a leading battery-powered outdoor power equipment brand with broad residential and commercial adoption. Comparable as a competitor in Whisper Aero's Tone brand consumer leaf blower market, with established dealer and retail distribution channels.
Emerging players
- VerdeGo Aero: VerdeGo Aero develops electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for emerging eVTOL and unmanned aircraft. Comparable as a smaller, peer propulsion developer focused on distributed electric propulsion for advanced air mobility applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Whisper Aero social profiles
Digital presenceWhisper Aero compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Whisper Aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Whisper Aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Whisper Aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Whisper Aero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Whisper Aero
What does Whisper Aero do?
Whisper Aero designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-quiet electric ducted fan propulsion systems under the eQ series (eQ120, eQ160, eQ250), scaling from 5 to 500+ lbs of thrust for drones, eVTOLs, regional aircraft, and defense applications. The company also offers the JetFoil wing-integrated propulsion concept for STOL aircraft, WhisperDrive-scaled commercial propulsion technology, and the Tone consumer brand for quiet outdoor power equipment such as the T1 leaf blower and electric tow-behind blower.
Is Whisper Aero a public or private company?
Whisper Aero is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Whisper Aero founded?
Whisper Aero was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Whisper Aero based?
Whisper Aero is headquartered in Crossville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Whisper Aero make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electric Propulsion Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are consumer Products (Tone Brand), technology Licensing and government R&D Contracts.
Who are Whisper Aero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Eviation Aircraft, Beta Technologies, magniX, Lilium, ZeroAvia and Wisk Aero. EGO Power+ is listed as a broad incumbent. VerdeGo Aero is listed as an emerging player.
Does Whisper Aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Whisper Aero.
What industry is Whisper Aero in?
Whisper Aero's product category is Aerospace Propulsion Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABADAA, Turbofan Engines, with a secondary code of IMABAMAD, Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion. Its NAICS code is 336415 and its SIC code is 3724.