Whisper Aero Aims to Quiet the World with Ultraquiet Electric Propulsion.

Whisper Aero, a propulsion startup, has raised $32 million in Series A funding to develop ultraquiet, ultraefficient electric ducted fans for electric aviation. The company is initially targeting U.S. Defense Department applications such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) uncrewed aircraft that are inaudible from the ground. Whisper Aero has validated its technology with flights of a custom-designed 55-lb. ISR drone powered by a single 10-lb.-thrust demonstrator propulsor. The startup's ambitions go far beyond powering small drones, to encompass air taxis and transonic aircraft and even consumer and industrial applications from leaf blowers to compressors.