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A small testbed aircraft to explore what happens in flight using Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion.
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Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program

The Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) solicits and encourages revolutionary concepts, creates the environment for researchers to experiment with new ideas, performs ground and small-scale flight tests, allows failures and learns from them, and drives rapid turnover into potential future concepts to enable aviation transformation.

Learn More About TACP about Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dr. John Cavolowsky

DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Angela Surgenor

A Gateway to Aviation Transformation

imaginAviation 2024 was held Feb. 27-29. While it may be over, you can relive the fun and learning by viewing all sessions on demand.

Watch the videos here about A Gateway to Aviation Transformation
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TACP Leadership

Learn more about the leadership for the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program.

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Dr. John Cavolowsky

Director

Angela Surgenor

Angela Surgenor

Deputy Director

TACP Projects

TACP pursues its research goals across these projects.

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Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS)

NASA wants to increase innovation in the way airplanes fly and the aviation industry along with it. The Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project invests in seemingly improbable ideas that might lead to solutions to the problems that plague aviation and impact safety, environmental and community impact, and the global growth in air traffic. The goal of CAS is to rapidly assess the feasibility of novel concepts to determine whether additional investment is warranted.

Artist illustration of A small testbed aircraft to explore what happens in flight using Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion.

Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT)

This project develops state-of-the-art computational and experimental tools and technologies that are vital to Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate's (ARMD's) ability to advance the prediction of future aircraft performance in flight, such as first-of-a-kind tools that isolate the complex turbulent airflow around vehicles and within propulsion systems. TTT creates computer-based tools, models and associated scientific knowledge that can be applied to the entire ARMD portfolio.

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University Innovation (UI)

The UI project supports educating the next generation of aeronautical innovators by providing opportunities for university-led teams to conduct research into transformative technology that supports NASA's research goals. These opportunities include the University Leadership Initiative and the University Student Research Challenge. The idea is to spur universities to take a larger leadership role in advancing ideas that will transform aviation and maintain the nation’s leadership in the global aviation community.

University Leadership Initiative

Learn about the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts University Leadership Initiative (ULI).

Learn More About ULI about University Leadership Initiative
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Other Aeronautics topics

Artist illustration of the X-59 in flight over a surbuban neighborhood.

Research about flying faster than the speed of sound.

Aerospace Cognitive Engineering Lab Rapid Automation Test Environment; (ACEL-RATE) in N262 showing out-the-window views of San Francisco for UAM UTM Ride Quality Simulation project.

Stories about pioneering the frontiers of 21st century flight.

The Moog SureFly aircraft hovers above Cincinnati Municipal Airport during an acoustic hover test.

All about new ways to get from here to there in the air.

In this image, captured using data from a wind-tunnel test, the red and orange areas represent higher drag, and the green and bl

Learn about research to make aviation more sustainable.

Airplane outside it's gate at the airport.

Read about how NASA is opening up the sky for all.