View past webinars on our 2020 Webinar Archive page or check out all of our videos on the VFS Video Library page!
The Vertical Flight Society is hosting virtual technical sessions, workshops, presentations and interviews on timely and relevant topics in VTOL and eVTOL. These webinars are hosted either by VFS headquarters or by our chapters around the world. There are sponsorship opportunities for each of the webinars.
The programs provide important information to help the community continue advancing vertical flight.
| Tue., Jan. 19: Austin Meyer - How X-Plane can be used for eVTOL flight, presented by the eVTOL Flight Test Council 1100-1200 EST/1000-1100 CST/0800-0900 PST/1600-1700 UTC Moderator: Peter Schmidt, Transcend Speaker: Austin Meyer, X-Plane  On Jan 19th, Austin Meyer, inventor, investor, entrepreneur, software engineer, and CEO/developer of X-Plane will present on flight simulation of eVTOLs based on X-Plane’s “near-first-principle physics” approach. He will discuss the challenges he faced and overcame in doing so with X-Plane, including enhancing blade element theory flight modeling and improving its handling qualities for aircraft with multiple, possibly tilting/transitioning props. |
 |
| Tue., Jan. 19: Dr. Paul Bevilaqua - Creating the Joint Strike Fighter, presented by the VFS St Louis Chapter and AIAA 1900-2000 EST/1800-1900 CST/1700-1600 PST/0000-0100 UTC (Jan. 20) Moderator: Dr. Charlie Svoboda, Boeing Speaker: Dr. Paul Bevilaqua, Aerospace Consultant (formerly Lockheed Martin)  Lockheed Martin won the Joint Strike Fighter competition when the X-35 demonstrator aircraft made a short takeoff, went supersonic, and then landed vertically, the first time any aircraft had accomplished this feat. This was made possible by its innovative dual-cycle propulsion system, invented by Dr. Paul Bevilaqua, who then led the team that demonstrated the feasibility of developing variants of this aircraft for all three military services. |
 |
| There will be a limited number of sponsorships available. Contact Jim Sherman to apply for a sponsorship and register. Platinum Sponsorship: $5,000 — includes logo on the program promotions, 2 minute video promotion at the start of the session. (Subject to approval and availability.) |
|
Christiaan started his career at Sikorsky as a Production Test Pilot providing both production and training support in all of Sikorsky’s military and commercial helicopters while also working as a project pilot on the CH-5K program. In 2016 he attended the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, CA, and began working as an Experimental Test Pilot. In 2018 he joined the Future Vertical Lift program where he has supported the S-97 Raider and S-100 Defiant as a project pilot. He is the lead project pilot on Sikorsky’s Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft program. Christiaan has flown over 4,000 hours in over 25 types of aircraft. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a BA in Political Science. He lives in Jupiter, FL.
Bill Fell is the senior experimental test pilot for Sikorsky’s S-97 and joint multi-role programs. Previously, Bill served in the U.S. Army for 20 years as a master army aviator and experimental test pilot with tours in the 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd ACR and the Army Aviation Technical Test Center. Operationally he served as an instructor pilot on Bell OH-58C and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior platforms. Bill has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Troy State University and a master’s degree in paralegal sciences from George Washington University. He is a graduate of US Naval Test Pilot School.
Mr. Matt Sipe is Chief of the Technical Management Division for the Aviation Turbine Engines Project Office in the Army’s PEO Aviation. As such, he is responsible for providing overall direction, coordination, leadership, and management of all engineering functions for the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE), T700, and T55 engine Products and Aviation Electrical Power Systems. In the ITE and Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Project Office, Mr. Sipe served as the Systems Engineering Branch Chief, and temporarily served as the ITE Tech Chief, the FVL Tech Chief, and as the Mission Systems Architecture (MSA) Lead for FVL responsible for progressing Open Systems Architecture concepts. In the Apache Project Office, Mr. Sipe served as the Lead Systems Engineer for the AH-64E Version 6 effort and performed APM duties as the lead for the Ground Fire Acquisition and Development effort. In the Aviation Engineering Directorate, Mr. Sipe also served as the MH-60 platform team lead for airworthiness, the Executive Officer of AED, and a platform engineer on UH-60M and related FMS aircraft. While in the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Office, Mr. Sipe provided Flight Test and Program Management support as a support contractor. Lastly and in the USAF, Mr. Sipe served as an active duty officer providing program management and engineering expertise to the Special Operations C-130 Program Office where he also became a lead trainer and evaluator in Aircarft Battle Damage Repair. Mr. Sipe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Life Christian University, and a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University. He is married with 3 kids. He spends the majority of his non-work time enjoying his family. Outside of his family, he is involved in a local church in which he serves as an elder and teaches leadership courses. For hobbies, he enjoys hunting and exercising.
Dr. Andreas Bernhard is the Director of Aircraft Design at Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Corporation Company. In this capacity he is responsible for all technical aspects related to the design of blades, rotors, transmissions, airframes, propulsion systems, landing gear and miscellaneous subsystems (rescue hoists, weapon mounts), across all development, in-production and out-of-production platforms. Previous assignments were Chief Engineer for the CH-53K KING STALLION and S-97™ RAIDER. Dr Bernhard graduated from the WITS in 92 (B.Sc. Aeronautical Engineering) and in 2000 from the University of Maryland with a Ph.D. (Aerospace Engineering). His research was on smart rotor technology including hover testing of blades with active tips, active twist and trailing edge flaps. He holds 5 patents, has authored 12 peer reviewed Journal Articles and over 20 Conference papers. He has also won numerous awards including most recently the Lockheed Martin Nova award (2016) and the American Helicopter Society Grover Bell Award (2016).
Katrin Mayrhofer joined INCAS in July 2017 as the Program Manager for Romanian Consortium RoRCraft of the RACER project. Her main responsibilities are the planning, monitoring and coordination of all technical related tasks. Katrin formerly worked for Airbus Helicopters as PMO within the RACER, being involved since the beginning in the project. She was responsible for Program Management Support of all Stakeholders, internal, external and Customers.
Albert is the coordinator for the composite manufacturing activities for the RACER project at Romaero. Works in the R&D department in Romaero since 2018 as expert in composites manufacturing. He is responsible for the management of all the composites-related R&D projects of Romaero and the associated technology development and assimilation.
Ms. Caitlin Berrigan is currently a Control Law Engineer on the V-280 Valor program at Bell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. Her duties include time and frequency domain analysis, safety of flight test data monitoring, on-aircraft flight control support, and open and closed-loop software testing in support of the V-280 AVCD program. Prior to her time at Bell, Caitlin worked at Textron Aviation as a Mechanical Systems Engineer on the Citation Longitude High Lift System, and a Flight Controls Unit Member apprentice.
Dr. Mark Lopez is an aerospace engineer at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) at Moffett Field, CA. He leads the CCDC AvMC efforts for flight mechanics modeling and simulation, including physics-based models and system identification. He currently leads flight mechanics efforts for Future Vertical Lift related configurations including both manned and unmanned vehicles. Prior to joining CCDC AvMC, he received his Ph.D. in 2016 from the Georgia Institute of Technology in aerospace engineering with his work on rotorcraft integrated flight and vibration control design under Dr. J.V.R. Prasad. His current interests are in the modeling of FVL configurations and Group 3 UAS for last-mile assured resupply.
Eric Sinusas oversaw Bell’s (electrically distributed anti-torque) EDAT innovation as the program director, Lights, this includes the Bell 505, Bell 407 and Bell 429 programs. Eric is responsible for teams in Mirabel and Fort Worth. During his career at Bell, Eric has served in several roles across the business, notably, his role as manager, Drive Systems, where he was responsible for assuring the technical integrity of drive systems for all programs and ensuring a deep pipeline of Drive Systems Design and Analysis talent. Eric has nine published patents to date and was the recipient of the AHS Francois-Xavier Bagnoud award recognizing his contribution to vertical flight technology. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Over 31 years in rotor-wing aviation, beginning as an electrical engineer in the industry and advancing throughout Sikorsky Aircraft into Program Management, Operations, Government Marketing, and Sales. Commercial Rotorwing and Commercial Fixed-wing instrument-rated pilot. Received a number of industry awards in engineering and sales. 2009 Salesperson of the year at Bell. Returned to Sikorsky in marketing and sales, managing and leading an aftermarket and sales team in commercial business around the globe.
Mr. Schultz joined Lockheed Martin in 2006 and has consistently taken on increasingly complex business opportunities. Prior to his role at Sikorsky, he served as the Vice President and General Manager of the Ship and Aviation Systems (SAS) line of business. In this role he oversaw the strategy and execution of a diverse portfolio including the Littoral Combat Ship program; Coast Guard systems; rotary wing, fixed wing, unmanned aerial systems; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; electronic products; information technology services for U.S. and international postal services; and high-powered laser systems. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin Mr. Schultz served on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, as the program manager for the Joint V-22 Osprey Program. He was responsible for the execution of the program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Special Operations Command. He has also held several commanding officer positions in aviation and ground units while on active duty. Mr. Schultz’s military career included serving in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Navy Research, Development and Acquisition, as well as with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-8 Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC)..
coming soon.
coming soon.
coming soon.
JR Hammond is the Executive Director of CAAM, the Not for Profit Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium. The consortium is the exclusive, unified voice for designing and implementing a national Advanced Air Mobility strategy in Canada. JR is also the Founder of Canadian Air Mobility based in Vancouver, Canada. Canadian Air Mobility is a For-Profit company mandated on Activist Based Investments in Environmental & Social Ventures within AAM.
David is the Vice President of Business Development at Eve Air Mobility, and co-led the development of the UAM Concept of Operations with Airservices Australia. David's 18+ years of experience as a commercial fixed-wing and helicopter pilot bring practical experience to Eve's partnerships and engagements. Prior to joining Eve, David served as Business Development Director for EmbraerX and is the project leader of the Urban Air Traffic Management initiative.
Systems thinker, safety focused, innovator, and technology fanatic. Kristian is an aerospace engineer with a genuine belief that technology holds the solution to many large societal problems. His experience exists at the nexus of structured, rigorous engineering and innovative, agile approaches. With a wealth of practiced skills in systems engineering, software safety, assurance of autonomous systems, and a passion for advanced and complex technologies, He aims to lead technical teams to the most pragmatic and innovative solutions for difficult problems. Kristian currently leads Airservices Australia’s Integrated Airspace Program, focused on integration of new airspace users.
Bastiaan Janmaat is a Managing Director at Linse Capital and Levitate Capital. From 2013 to 2018, Bastiaan was CEO and Co-Founder of DataFox Intelligence, a software company employing artificial intelligence to gather advanced insights about privately-held businesses. Oracle Corporation acquired DataFox in 2018. Before founding DataFox, Bastiaan worked on Goldman Sachs’ alternative energy investing team within the London-based European Special Situations Group. Bastiaan earned a BSc degree in International Business from Tilburg University, dual MSc degrees in International Management from ESADE and CEMS, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. .
Dario Constantine is a senior associate at Levitate Capital, where he focuses on drone technology companies. He aims to invest in today’s innovators who share Levitate’s vision for the pivotal role uncrewed aerial vehicles will play in the world over the next decade and beyond. Before starting a career in venture capital, Dario was a senior engineer at Maxar Technologies, where he led the spacecraft configuration designs of geostationary satellites. Dario earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.
On Jan 19th, Austin Meyer, inventor, investor, entrepreneur, software engineer, and CEO/developer of X-Plane will present on flight simulation of eVTOLs based on X-Plane’s “near-first-principle physics” approach. He will discuss the challenges he faced and overcame in doing so with X-Plane, including enhancing blade element theory flight modeling and improving its handling qualities for aircraft with multiple, possibly tilting/transitioning props.
Dr. Bevilaqua received degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University. He began his career as an Air Force officer at Wright Patterson AFB, where he developed a lift system for an Air Force VSTOL Search and Rescue Aircraft. He was Manager of Advanced Programs at Rockwell International’s Navy aircraft plant, where he led the design of V/STOL interceptor and transport aircraft. He joined Lockheed Martin as Chief Aeronautical Scientist and became Chief Engineer of the Skunk Works, where he played a leading role in creating the Joint Strike Fighter. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He is also the recipient of a USAF Scientific Achievement Award, the AIAA and SAE Aircraft Design Awards, the AIAA and AHS (now VFS) VSTOL Awards, and Lockheed Martin AeroStar and Nova Awards.