The U.S. Air Force has started soliciting information as it evaluates a business case for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and explores various aspects of cost and methods of obtaining a personnel transport capability.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center intends to assess the potential use of eVTOL aircraft in supporting Distinguished Visitor transport and test range logistics support missions, according to a request for information published Thursday.
“The U.S. Government is interested in exploring commercial interest in aligning initial commercial operating locations with these Air Force squadrons which would enable U.S. Government use of eVTOL for DV transport missions while allowing commercial use of the vehicle otherwise,” the RFI states.
The Air Force said it anticipates deployment of the aircraft no later than 2025.
The service has outlined its potential requirements for DV transport and test range logistics support missions and wants interested stakeholders to respond to several cost scenarios for adopting an eVTOL platform: government owned, government operated; contractor owned, government operated; and contractor owned, contractor operated.
Responses to the RFI are due Nov. 4.
