Wayfarer Aircraft Research And Development Inc.

Wayfarer Aircraft Research And Development Inc., doing business as Wayfarer Aircraft Research & Development Inc., is a for-profit corporation specializing in advanced aeronautics research and development. The company focuses on innovative propulsion technologies and aircraft designs, particularly in the field of integrated high lift propulsors for advanced air mobility applications. Registered to receive federal awards since December 2019, Wayfarer has secured both federal contracts and grants to support its cutting-edge research efforts in aeronautics and propulsion systems.

Through federal contracts, Wayfarer Aircraft Research And Development Inc. has primarily engaged in research and development projects for NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The company was awarded a $899,843 firm fixed price definitive contract in January 2024 for integrated high lift propulsor research and development, continuing its efforts to advance propulsor technologies supporting NASA's aeronautics research goals. This Phase II STTR contract, to be performed in La Mesa, California, builds upon a previous $155,710 Phase I STTR contract awarded in July 2022 for the same research focus. Both contracts were administered by NASA's Shared Services Center and designated as total small business set-asides, highlighting Wayfarer's role in supporting NASA's commitment to fostering innovation through small businesses in the aerospace sector.

In the realm of federal grants, Wayfarer Aircraft Research And Development Inc. received a $255,843 project grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in August 2022. This grant, awarded under the NSF's Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program, funds research and development of an integrated high lift propulsor aimed at enabling affordable and energy-efficient advanced air mobility aircraft designs. The project, scheduled from August 2022 to July 2023, involves wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations to characterize aerodynamic interactions between propellers and wings under varying configurations. This research seeks to advance understanding of complex slipstream effects on wing performance, with potential applications in defense, public safety, humanitarian missions, and new mobility capabilities. The grant's broader impact aims to contribute to the growing advanced air mobility market while developing community-compatible, economically and socially relevant mobility solutions with reduced environmental impacts.