Company and Technology Overview
Pressure Foil Propulsion, from 1987 to a licensed technology.
Quinn Aerospace Inc. develops Pressure Foil Propulsion, a patented electric propulsion technology with documented efficiency advantages over jet and rocket propulsion. Licensing is now available for marine, defense, and aerospace manufacturers.
1987
Research began
277+
CFD simulations completed
2
Active patents held
2041
US patent active to
01 — The Technology
What Pressure Foil Propulsion is.
Pressure Foil Propulsion generates axial thrust through a rotating disc fitted with closely spaced fins along its periphery. When driven at speed, the fins discharge fluid faster than it can be replenished, creating a sustained pressure deficit that generates thrust without a propeller blade, jet nozzle, or rocket.
The critical advantage over conventional propulsion: a propeller becomes progressively less efficient as forward speed increases. The pressure foil maintains constant thrust efficiency regardless of forward speed making it most competitive at the high operating speeds where propellers lose effectiveness.
Physical test data from June 2026 documents the PF900 prototype consuming 7.4 times less energy per unit of thrust than a GE CF34 jet engine, and 279 times less than an RS-25 rocket. Full telemetry available under NDA.
02 — Physical Prototype
The PF900 LSV is tested and registered.
Quinn Aerospace has built a functional electric Land Speed Vehicle powered entirely by a single PF900 pressure foil unit. The vehicle completed a 1,346-metre documented test run in December 2025, reaching 20 mph with full onboard telemetry logging. Stationary thrust of 80 lbs (354 Newtons) has been documented on video.
In August 2026, the vehicle passed California Highway Patrol formal inspection and was assigned VIN CA1201016 making it a registered, recognised vehicle. A further formal desert test at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed is scheduled for October 2026 with professional documentation.
03 — Development Timeline
35 years of progress.
1987 — Research begins
Steve Quinn begins searching for an alternative propulsion method for automobiles, boats, ships, trains, and aircraft using the pressure-foiling concept.
1994 — First patent granted
US Patent 5,328,333, Rotating Thrust Producing Apparatus, is granted — the foundational patent describing the pressure foil disc mechanism.
2022 — Control system patent granted
US Patent 11,518,443, Control System for Rotating Thrust Producing Apparatus, is granted. Active to 2041. This is the commercially licensable IP.
2025 — PF900 LSV prototype built and tested
The Land Speed Vehicle prototype completes a documented 1,346-metre test run at 20 mph with the pressure foil as sole propulsion. 80 lbs of stationary thrust documented on video.
2026 — CHP approval and VIN assigned
California Highway Patrol assigns VIN CA1201016 to the LSV following formal inspection in August 2026. Canadian patent CA 3159999 reinstated. El Mirage desert test scheduled for October 2026.
Now — Licensing outreach underway
Quinn Aerospace is actively approaching marine, defense, and aerospace manufacturers with a full confidential licensing pitch available under NDA.
03 — Intellectual Property
Active patent protection to 2041.
US 11,518,443
Control System for Rotating Thrust Producing Apparatus
The commercially critical patent — covers the adjustable control surfaces that modulate direction and magnitude of thrust output. This is what a licensing partner would manufacture products using. Managed by Kelly and Kelley LLP, Burbank, California.
Active to 2041
CA 3159999
Control System — Canada
Canadian protection for the same control system. Reinstated August 2026 following a brief lapse. Provides dual US and Canadian IP coverage for North American licensing partners.
Active — reinstated August 2026
US 5,328,333
Rotating Thrust Producing Apparatus
The original foundational device patent — granted 1994, expired 2013. Now in the public domain. The commercially protectable implementation layer is covered by US 11,518,443.
Expired 2013
Patent portfolio managed by Kelly and Kelley LLP, 4400 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, California. Tel: (818) 347-7900. Licensing term sheets and NDA documentation available upon request.