VFS Forum 79 – 79th Annual Forum & Technology Display
- Date
- 2023-05-01
- Location
- USA
- Host
- Vertical Flight Society (AHS International)
About this event
Vertical flight is moving fast, and the conversations shaping its future are happening here. VFS Forum 79 – the 79th Annual Forum & Technology Display brings together the engineers, researchers, operators, technologists, and industry peers who are actively building what comes next in aerospace and autonomous flight. If you want more than headlines and high-level trends, this is the kind of event that puts you in the middle of the technical and professional exchange. It is a long-running gathering with a clear purpose: to connect the vertical flight community around serious ideas, real technology, and the people doing the work. About the Event The VFS 79th Annual Forum & Technology Display is presented as the world’s leading vertical flight technical conference, with a focus on the ideas, systems, and breakthroughs shaping this sector. The event centers on technical exchange and practical insight, making it especially relevant for people working across aerospace, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, autonomy, and adjacent fields. This is not just a conference in the abstract. It is also a technology display, which adds an important hands-on dimension to the experience. Alongside formal sessions, attendees can explore innovations, see what organizations are developing, and have direct conversations about tools, platforms, capabilities, and applications. Because it has reached its 79th edition, the Forum carries the momentum of a well-established professional community. That matters: recurring events like this tend to attract attendees who are there to learn, contribute, and build relationships over time, not simply pass through for surface-level networking. Held in person in the USA, the event is designed for face-to-face participation. That in-person format supports the kinds of technical discussion and spontaneous connection that are often most valuable at industry gatherings, especially in fast-evolving fields like autonomous flight and aerospace systems development. What to Expect Expect a program built around technical content, peer exchange, and exposure to emerging technology. Given the event’s focus and positioning, attendees should come ready for a conference environment where presentations, discussions, and demonstrations all play a role in the experience. You can expect the event to bring together a mix of professionals from across the vertical flight ecosystem, which may create a strong cross-section of perspectives. That often means conversations that move between research and application, design and operations, current capabilities and future directions. Likely highlights of the experience include: Technical sessions focused on vertical flight and related aerospace topics Industry and community conversations around challenges, opportunities, and emerging directions Technology displays that offer a closer look at current innovations and practical developments Networking opportunities with peers across engineering, research, operations, and business functions Discussion of autonomous flight and its growing role within the broader aerospace landscape For many attendees, one of the strongest parts of an event like this is the space between the scheduled moments. The hallway conversations, follow-up questions after talks, and quick introductions at displays can be just as useful as the formal agenda, especially when you are looking for collaborators, insight, or a clearer understanding of where the field is heading. Why Attend This event is valuable because it brings technical depth and community access into the same room. You are not choosing between learning and networking; you are getting both in a setting built around substantive exchange. That combination can be especially useful if your work touches innovation, system development, autonomy, or the future of flight. For technical attendees, the Forum offers a chance to sharpen your understanding of current developments and hear directly from others working on related problems. For business-facing or strategy-minded attendees, it is a strong way to track momentum in the field, understand where attention is going, and meet the people influencing that direction. Attending can help you: Stay current on developments in vertical flight and aerospace technology Understand the landscape around autonomous flight and adjacent innovation areas Meet the community behind the work, from researchers to practitioners Spot practical ideas you can bring back to your own organization or projects Build relationships that may lead to future collaboration, hiring, partnership, or knowledge-sharing There is also real value in being present at a long-standing forum with a clear identity. Events with this level of continuity often become important touchpoints for their field, and attending gives you a more grounded sense of the conversations, priorities, and people shaping the space right now. Practical Details Location: In person in the USA Date and time: Monday, May 1 at 12:00 AM UTC Because the event is in person, attendees should plan for on-site participation and the benefits that come with it: direct access to the technology display, easier introductions, and more natural conversation with fellow attendees. If you are deciding whether to attend remotely or wait for post-event summaries, this is the kind of forum where being in the room is likely to matter. If this event aligns with your work or interests, it is worth approaching it with a plan. Review your priorities ahead of time, think about the topics or people you most want to connect with, and leave space in your schedule for informal conversations. The strongest outcomes often come from combining structured sessions with intentional networking. This event is a strong fit for people interested in: Aerospace and vertical flight Autonomous flight systems and emerging applications Technical learning and professional exchange Industry community-building Meaningful networking with practitioners and peers Whether you are deeply specialized in the field or looking to better understand where vertical flight is going, VFS Forum 79 offers a credible, focused setting to learn from the community and take part in the conversation.
Who should attend
If your work touches vertical flight, autonomy, or next-generation aircraft systems, this forum is built for you. - **Engineers and technical leaders** working in rotorcraft, eVTOL, propulsion, controls, structures, avionics, or flight sciences who want serious technical depth and exposure to the latest developments in vertical flight. - **Professionals in autonomous flight and UAVs** looking to better understand how autonomy, sensing, integration, and real-world operations are evolving across civil, commercial, and defense applications. - **R&D teams, product developers, and innovation leads** who want to see emerging technologies up close, compare approaches, and bring back ideas that can shape near-term roadmaps. - **Program managers, operators, and decision-makers** who need a clearer view of where the field is heading, what technologies are gaining traction, and how technical progress connects to deployment. - **Researchers, faculty, and students** seeking a strong technical community, meaningful conversations, and a chance to connect academic work with industry priorities. - **Anyone building in aerospace** who values face-to-face access to the vertical flight community and wants a focused setting to learn, ask better questions, and meet the people moving the field forward.