Request for Information (RFI) and Industry Day for NASA ARMD Aeronautics Flight Accelerator

Amendment 006:

The purpose of this amendment is to extend the response deadline by 1 week to May 14, 2026, 1:00PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Interested partners who have already submitted a response may provide revised submissions at any time prior to the updated deadline.

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Amendment 005:

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1. Provide the AFA Industry Day Interested Parties List; and
2. Update the Response Requirements Section with the following language: Do not submit export controlled (including ITAR- or EAR-controlled data) or classified or security-controlled information. Proprietary or business confidential information may be included, but must be clearly marked.

As a result of this amendment, the RFI submittal date has NOT been changed and is NOT extended. Previously submitted responses may be revised and re-submitted up until the RFI due date.

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Amendment 004

The purpose of this amendment is to provide:

1. The AFA Industry Day charts,
2. Additional charts from AFRC’s Ideas to Flight to provide further details on NASA’s aircraft and capabilities,
3. A list of questions received from interested partners with NASA’s responses, and
4. An additional item under Section 4. Technical Objectives. Item “g” has been added as follows: Please identify the research and technology development challenges that you would like NASA's help in mitigating?

As a result of this amendment, the RFI submittal date has NOT been changed and is NOT extended. Previously submitted responses may be revised and re-submitted up until the RFI due date.

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Amendment 003

The purpose of this amendment is to:  

1. Extend the deadline for registering for Industry Day from 5:00 PM ET on April 14, 2026 to 12:00 PM ET on April 17, 2026.

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Amendment 002

The purpose of this amendment is to:  

1. Extend the deadline for registering for Industry Day, requesting a one-on-one meeting, and submitting the one-on-one two page executive summary from 12:00 PM ET on April 14, 2026 to 5:00 PM ET on April 14, 2026.

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Amendment 001 

The purpose of this amendment is to:  

1. Provide information for the NASA Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) Industry Day; and   
2. Clarify the number of responses a single entity can submit to this RFI. There is no limit on the number of RFI responses that can be provided by one entity. Potential partners can submit multiple, separate ideas. 

Industry Day:  

The NASA Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) will host an Industry Day at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio on April 23, 2026, featuring an overview of the Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) initiative, including its objectives and anticipated timelines. The event will also include a description of flight assets across the Agency, an overview of technical capabilities within the aeronautics research centers, an open question-and-answer session, and opportunities for private one-on-one discussions.  Additional information:  

Location:  

Ohio Aerospace Institute  

22800 Cedar Point Rd  

Cleveland, OH 44142  

Date:  

April 23, 2026 

Time:  

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM  

Industry participants may request a 20-minute time slot (subject to adjustment by NASA) to conduct a private one-on-one session. Due to the limited number of available slots, those interested in participating in the one-on-one sessions shall identify three preferred time slots between 11:00am – 5:00pm, ranked from 1 to 3, with 1 representing the most preferred timeframe. While every effort will be made to accommodate these preferences, participants may be assigned a time slot outside of their top three selections. Furthermore, NASA requests that any entities planning to propose as a team, schedule a single session with representatives from each member of the team. Each entity is limited to a single meeting and may include no more than five (5) attendees for the one-on-one. 

Those requesting a one-on-one meeting shall submit a two-page executive summary no later than 5:00 PM ET on April 14, 2026.  Participants shall utilize the attached AFA Industry Day Response Form for their submission. Responses should be high-level enough to not disclose any confidential, proprietary, or export controlled (including ITAR/EAR) information, while also providing information that would facilitate a follow-up conversation for potential partnerships. Participants should be prepared to present and discuss their two-page AFA Industry Day Response executive summary with NASA during their assigned one-on-one time slot.  NASA will review each response and assign time slots to the participant(s) that NASA determines provides the best approach to the AFA objectives.  

Please note that the Industry Day and one-on-one sessions will be held in-person only. There will not be any virtual/hybrid component to these events. To register for the Industry Day, please email the following individuals no later than 12:00 PM ET on April 17, 2026. 

Name: Jenni Schnarr 

Email: contact@example.gov  

Name: Tanjanica Jackson 

Email: contact@example.gov  

Each attendee shall provide the following information for each participant:  

• Company name 

• Company address 

• Full legal name 

• E-mail 

• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident status  

NOTE: Due to the potential volume of email requests, as well as to distinguish the requests from all other email, please annotate in the subject line indicating: “AFA Industry Day Request.”  

Unregistered parties MAY NOT attend any of the Industry Day activities. Attendance at the Industry Day and/or one-on-one sessions is neither required nor a prerequisite for a RFI response submission. 

This is not a solicitation. NASA AFRC is not requesting or accepting proposals. The information provided and/or gathered from this Industry Day will assist NASA in finalizing the potential requirement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All questions should be directed to the POCs identified below. The Government may not respond to questions/concerns submitted. It is the interested party’s responsibility to monitor this website for the release of any subsequent solicitation or synopsis. 

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA)
RFI Release Date: April 7, 2026
Responses Due: May 14, 2026, 1:00PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Reference: NASA ARMD Aeronautics Flight Accelerator

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO PROPOSALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 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 under the Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) initiative. NASA is requesting input on technologies, concepts, and flight test campaigns suitable for cost shared maturation leading to flight within the next three years. Areas of interest span subsonic (including vertical lift), supersonic, and hypersonic flight technologies.

AFA aims to accelerate U.S. competitiveness by promoting rapid, cost-effective flight experimentation; strengthening the U.S. aerospace industrial base; enabling domestic manufacturing and job creation; inspiring the Nation and capturing the public’s imagination as only flight (and NASA) can.  NASA intends to use responses to help shape a potential competitive solicitation for cost shared projects to fly as early as FY26 and no later than FY28. This RFI is for planning only and does not constitute a commitment by the Government.

For more than 70 years, NASA has advanced American aerospace leadership through flight research, X-planes, and experimental testbeds. Many emerging aeronautics technologies require flight validation to progress toward operational transition. The AFA initiative seeks to shorten the path from concept to flight by integrating NASA capabilities with contributions from small and large businesses, academia, and other government agencies.

The initiative encourages rapid, flight focused maturation of technologies including, but not limited to, propulsion, airframe concepts, integrated systems, power systems, GNC, avionics, sensors, advanced instrumentation, materials, autonomy, airspace operations, and communication technologies across all flight regimes.

Benefits of AFA include:
• Accelerated development and validation of innovative aeronautics technologies
• Increased use of risk tolerant flight testing
• Leveraging NASA capabilities and prior investments
• Expanding access to NASA expertise and facilities
• Advancing ARMD’s four transformations

• Pioneer High Speed Flight
• Automate Airspace and Safety Management
• Transform Airframes and Propulsion
• Revolutionize Aerospace Engineering Methods

NASA is considering funded Space Act Agreements, SBIR/STTR Phase III, and similar partnership mechanisms. Respondents should assume some level of cost share as part of a future partnership; NASA’s contribution may include in kind resources such as expertise and flight assets. Projects should incorporate adequate ground testing and integration planning to ensure readiness for flight. Subscale demonstrations and multiple spirals are acceptable. Flight testing should begin no later than the third year of effort.

Participation is limited to U.S.-based respondents. NASA requests input on the following topics:

1. Technology/Concept Overview
NASA is seeking revolutionary, rather than evolutionary, technologies and concepts that enable major leaps in capability.  Describe the proposed technology or concept and how NASA involvement supports maturation

2. Market
a. Describe the target market and estimated total market size
b. Identify differentiators relative to current solutions.
c. Provide estimate of intended product introduction timeline and how NASA’s partnership will aid in achievement of this timeline.

3. Mission and Operational Objectives
a. Identify system level performance parameters (design range, speed, payload, altitude) or subsystem operational requirements.
b. Identify airport/vertiport and vehicle requirements, energy/fuel compatibility, and runway/landing pad needs.
c. For subscale demos, provide demonstration scale parameters based on full-scale analysis/ requirements.

4. Technical Objectives
a. Identify key technical objectives.
b. Provide a top-level system diagram (5–10 subsystems).
c. Identify key performance parameters (<10).
d. Provide current and expected TRLs for key subsystems.
e. Identify integration or technical challenges.
f. Identify relevant FAA certification barriers.

g. Please identify the research and technology development challenges that you would like NASA's help in mitigating?

5. U.S. Economic Benefits
a. Identify headquarters, research, and manufacturing locations

b. Describe how this project supports U.S. technical and workforce competitiveness.

c. Describe national benefits from an economic, mobility, or dual-use perspective. (aero – space, civil – military).

6. NASA Collaboration Requirements
a. Describe expected division of development, integration, and testing responsibilities.

b. Identify desired NASA support, including:
– Indemnification
– Regulatory compliance support
– SME technical collaboration
– Access to ground test facilities
– Flight test vehicles and support assets
– Airworthiness approvals
– Communications networks
– Coordination with other agencies
– Any other needed support

7. Airworthiness, Flight, and Safety Oversight
Do you plan on using NASA, the FAA, or the DOD for your airworthiness and flight approval process?  What organization do you propose to conduct your safety oversight?

8. Applications and Transition
Describe anticipated technical, programmatic, regulatory, and supply-chain benefits. Identify commercial, operational, and governmental applications and how a NASA flight demo would support transition.

9. Experience and Capabilities
Describe relevant past performance and current capabilities to be used in development and testing of the proposed technology.

10. Procurement Mechanism Preferences
Provide perceived advantages/disadvantages of Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA) or other partnering mechanisms.  Describe any procurement or contractual challenges and features that would improve participation.

11. Data Rights and Intellectual Property
Identify required protections and willingness to participate in data (e.g. model, specs, test, etc..) sharing as public, internal use, confidential, or restricted.

12. Level of Interest, Partnership and Investment
Provide expected investment magnitude, cost share percentage, prospective partners and partnership interest level, and any factors that may deter proposal submission.

Response Requirements

• Single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 8.5 × 11-inch pages
• Charts/tables may use 8-point font.
• Maximum length: 8 pages
• Submit electronically in PDF format.
• Email submissions to: Jenni Schnarr — contact@example.gov by May 14, 2026, 1:00PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Subject Line: “AFA RFI Response – [Organization Name]”

Do not submit export controlled (including ITAR- or EAR-controlled data) or classified or security-controlled information. Proprietary or business confidential information may be included, but must be clearly marked..

This RFI does not constitute a solicitation or commitment by NASA. NASA will not pay for information provided. If a solicitation is released, it will appear on www.sam.gov, and respondents will be responsible for monitoring for updates.