Jetoptera

Over the past six months, we've been working toward one of the most competitive drone challenges in the U.S; the DARPA Lift Challenge. We completed all required milestones, sent our application in May, updates at the beginning of June and have been officially invited to compete as part of the first wave of selected teams. 🎉

The Lift Challenge received more than 480 applications and 72 were invited in this first tranche. Jetoptera's Project Pegasus is one of them.

Pegasus is designed with the goal to meet or exceed the payload-to-weight ratio DARPA is evaluating by carrying at least 110 lbs of payload on the Fluidic Propulsive System® (FPS®) powered aircraft that weighs under 55 lbs including fuel, and with a control system that responds 10x faster than conventional multi-copters.

The competition takes place August 2-9, 2026 in Dayton, Ohio, with $6.5 million in prizes including the $2.5 million grand prize.

Watch some of the very early Pegasus tests below (much more to follow!):

https://youtu.be/UZK3to5Ejj0

There’s still time to invest: wefunder.com/jetoptera

Update Darpa Lift: Jetoptera and Pegasus Selected Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

We recently sent our Q1 2026 Report to investors, and wanted to share a few of the highlights with our Linkedin community:

The J-500 cargo UAS has been fully transferred to our partner Eanan Al Samma in Dubai. In February, we fired the 250 kW Free Turbine Compressor for the first time in full configuration — a purpose-built turbocompressor designed to supply primary air to our Fluidic Propulsive System®. No one has done this before. Maiden flight is targeted for Q3/Q4 this year. 🛩️

We also entered the DARPA Lift Challenge, competing with Pegasus: an FPS®-powered prototype built to carry at least 110 lbs of payload while weighing under 55 lbs. We will announce the results of our submission soon. 🏆

Our IP portfolio now stands at 189 granted patents, including our latest on a recuperated gas turbine cycle that can cut fuel consumption by up to 30%.

To access the full quarterly and annual investor reports, you can invest through Wefunder and join our investor community:

wefunder.com/jetoptera

Here's to the future of flight. ✈️

This week, our team was represented in San Diego at the 12th International Conference on High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites (HTCMC), one of the most prestigious gatherings in advanced materials science. 🏅

Yesterday, our collaborator Walter Pritzkow presented our joint work with his company, Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik. Their Keramikblech technology is a proprietary Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite (OCMC) central to how the Fluidic Propulsive System® (FPS®) performs when supplied hot primary gases conditions.

In this application the FPS® runs on exhaust gas reaching up to 800°C. At those temperatures, conventional, metallic materials are too heavy to be competitive. OCMC, at just 2.8 g/cm³ with wall thicknesses under 2mm, gives us the weight and thermal tolerance Pegasus needs to meet the DARPA Lift Challenge's demanding payload requirements.

Only two OEMs in the world have successfully introduced ceramic matrix composites into aviation: GE Aerospace in the United States and Safran in France. Jetoptera is on the same path, with ceramic thrusters already flying on multiple test platforms since 2017. 🔬

Our round is still open but filling up fast. If you've been considering investing or increasing your investment, now is the time. Link in the first comment.

Invest or increase your position at wefunder.com/jetoptera

Jetoptera's Wefunder campaign is nearly sold out with more than 800 investors now in the round. 🎉

Over the past few weeks we've shared updates on our current progress, from the Fluidic Propulsive System®️ to our DARPA Challenge aircraft. That progress is reflected in the funds raised: Jetoptera is the #1 most raised RegCF campaign on Wefunder and #4 across all platforms according to Kingscrowd.

Here is what a few of our recent investors have said:

"Retired avionics engineer. See a lot of potential in this engine design. Great team of people." — Gary Cruz

"Extending my original investment because I believe in the concept, the technology and the people." — James Thornton

"I'm excited about Jetoptera because of its unique quiet technology, defence partnerships, and strong intellectual property." — Gavin Woodworth

There is very limited space left to invest. If you've been thinking of investing or increasing your position, now is the time. See the link in the comments. 🔗

Here's to the future of flight.

Link: wefunder.com/jetoptera

Check out our DARPA Challenge video submission! 🎬
https://youtu.be/xrNZ_Jh-Fjc
Our competition aircraft, Pegasus, is built around our Fluidic Propulsive System®. The video gives a full technical tour of the system.

Here's what makes it different:
- A VTOL-capable propulsion system built on ejectors to minimize weight and augment thrust — the world's only one of its kind
Gas generators in ultralight packaging running on jet fuel
- A control system with 10x faster attitude response than multi-copters
- Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites (OCMCs) with 1/3rd the density of steel and high-temperature capability
- A compact, blade-free, prop-free design that is truly runway independent

The next steps leading to the competition are:

🛫 June: Free flight with transitions
📦 July: Increasing payload toward target
🏆 August: DARPA Lift Challenge competition

Our community investment round is still open. Check out the link to invest or increase your investment.

wefunder.com/jetoptera

Copy of V7 Pegasus May 15 Video Our entry video to the DARPA Lift Challenge Competition explaining the principles and our patented Adaptive FPS

Our investor webinar recording is now available. 🎥

We had a great turnout and we’re so grateful for the continued support of our community.

We covered a lot of ground, including:
How FPS®️ works and why our thrust augmentation data puts us ahead
Why FPS aircraft sound like wind, not machinery
A direct performance comparison of FPS vs. hybrid electric
DARPA Pegasus update from the field in Germany
Live Q&A covering exit strategy, J-2000 development, and what comes after DARPA

The Q&A is particularly worth a listen. We addressed top investor questions including liquidity options, the J-2000 timeline, and the path to Part 108 cargo certification.

Watch the full recording here:

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Andrei is back from Germany with a full Pegasus update. 🛩️

Our DARPA Lift Challenge aircraft is 99% assembled at an air modeling airfield in the German countryside, where flight testing is taking place. In just five months, the team has built and integrated a complete propulsion system, avionics stack, and attitude control system in that time, all with new technology developed specifically for Pegasus.

We submitted our DARPA Lift Challenge progress report on schedule, including static propulsion tests at full power, ready flight controls software, and Pegasus at near-complete assembly. Beside targeting the completion of the DARPA LC mission, we expect that the Fluidic Propulsive System® (FPS®) architecture is a strong candidate for the "most original propulsion design" prize.

In addition, once proven, we will offer this as a Part 108 FAA rule compliant product, able to deliver larger one order of magnitude heavier cargo at higher frequencies, farther and faster than aircraft such as Amazon Prime's Mk30. This includes multiple deliveries on one flight, something that eg Mk30 or any other eVTOL cannot do at all.

Now is the time to invest in the future of flight. Invest or increase your position via the link in the comments.

Link: wefunder.com/jetoptera

https://youtu.be/d8FCchnR4ng?si=KiRqxBID8Pz8IGm0

We are #1 on Wefunder. 🏆

According to the latest data from KingsCrowd, Jetoptera is the #1 most raised campaign on Wefunder and #4 across all crowdfunding platforms nationwide — out of hundreds of investment opportunities.

Over 745 investors have backed this round, totaling more than $1.7M raised on Wefunder and $3.74M in the round overall. We also have the highest Kingscrowd rating (4.2 / 5.0) out of the top 10 campaigns.

This funding round advances our Fluidic Propulsion System®, a bladeless, propeller-free propulsion architecture that makes VTOL aircraft safer, quieter, and more efficient than anything in rotary aviation today.

In the words of one of our newest investors:

“The future is here. Either we ignore it, or be a part of it." - Jim

We are still accepting new or increased investments for a limited time. The round is more than 90% — now is the time to get in. 👇

wefunder.com/invest

The U.S. Army recently announced a new initiative to launch a digital procurement platform for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Our technology is a perfect fit for this platform, and we are now actively compiling our specs and technical documentation for submission. 🎯

Getting listed means our Fluidic Propulsion System® goes through Army evaluation, and once we're on the platform, soldiers using the system can rate it directly, sending feedback back to us in real time. That kind of ground-level data, coming from actual field use, is exactly what we need to keep refining our aircraft as we move toward full commercialization. 🛩️

A successful submission also opens the door to foreign military sales, creating procurement channels with allied nations.

We'll share updates as the application progresses.

Update: Pegasus is almost ready to fly ✈️

Everything is coming together for our aircraft in the DARPA challenge.

The thrusters and turbines are complete and assembled and all parts are now at one location, ready for installation next week. The aircraft — named Pegasus — is nearing its final configuration and architecture. 🛠️

DARPA requires proof of flight capability by May 15. That means Pegasus needs to be airborne and filmed by May 13.

We're in the final stretch. 🚀

Invest or increase your investment now: wefunder.com/jetoptera