NASA Aircraft and Capabilities.pdf

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and Industry Day announcement for NASA's Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) initiative. NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is seeking information from U.S. industry, academia, and government organizations regarding potential partnerships for research, development, and flight testing of aeronautics technologies. The RFI was released on April 7, 2026, with responses due by May 7, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. There is no limit on the number of RFI responses a single entity can submit. NASA is soliciting input on technologies, concepts, and flight test campaigns across subsonic (including vertical lift), supersonic, and hypersonic flight domains that are suitable for cost-shared maturation and flight testing within three years. The initiative aims to accelerate U.S. competitiveness by enabling rapid, cost-effective flight experimentation, strengthening the aerospace industrial base, and promoting domestic manufacturing and job creation. NASA intends to use RFI responses to shape a competitive solicitation for cost-shared projects with anticipated flight dates as early as FY26 and no later than FY28.

An Industry Day was held on April 23, 2026, at the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland, Ohio (22800 Cedar Point Road), from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, featuring an overview of the AFA initiative, descriptions of NASA flight assets across the agency, technical capabilities within aeronautics research centers, a question-and-answer session, and opportunities for one-on-one meetings. Entities interested in one-on-one meetings were required to submit a two-page executive summary and register by 12:00 PM ET on April 17, 2026 (extended deadline per Amendment 003). Industry participants could request a 20-minute time slot and were limited to a single meeting with no more than five attendees. The RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a government commitment. Amendment 004 added a technical objective requesting identification of research and technology development challenges where NASA assistance is needed. This RFI is administered by NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.