Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence
The Penn State Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence – one of three Vertical Lift Research Centers of Excellence in the United States – engages in a wide range of research and education activities related to vertical flight technology.
Approximately 60 full-time graduate students work on projects related to dynamics, aerodynamics, acoustics, flight control and simulation, icing, HUMS, smart stuctures, and advanced design of rotary-wing vehicles.
Visit the VLRCOE website to learn more.
Key Faculty:
- Kenneth Brentner
- Edward Smith
Centers and Institutes
- Applied Research Lab
- Center for Acoustics and Vibration
- Center for Combustion Power and Propulsion
- Composites Manufacturing Technology Center
- Engineering Energy & Environmental Institute
- Institute for Computational and Data Sciences
- Institutes of Energy and the Environment
- Materials Research Institute
- Rock Ethics Institute
- Sustainability Institute
- Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence


