Mohali-based aerospace startup Nalwa Aero Private Limited has won the Best Paper Award at the 39th National Convention of Aerospace Engineering (NCAE 2026), organised by The Institution of Engineers (India) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on October 23–24, 2026. The award recognises the company’s research on a Prandtl-inspired Box-Wing configuration for next-generation electric aircraft.education.economictimes.indiatimes+1
The winning paper, titled “A Prandtl–Plane Box-Wing Configuration for Advanced Air Mobility,” explores an unconventional aircraft architecture that connects forward and rear wings into an interconnected lifting system. The concept draws on aerodynamic principles associated with Ludwig Prandtl, often described as the father of modern aerodynamics.
Recognition From a Century-Old Institution
The Institution of Engineers (India), established in 1920 and incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1935, is among India’s oldest and largest multidisciplinary professional engineering bodies. Its national aerospace convention brings together scientists, researchers, engineers, and industry representatives working on the future of aviation and space technology.
For Nalwa Aero, the award validates the scientific foundation behind its aircraft development programme. The startup is applying a century-old aerodynamic concept to modern electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, combining the Box-Wing design with electric propulsion and tilting-rotor technology.
A Design Aimed at Efficient Air Mobility
The Box-Wing configuration links the aircraft’s front and rear wings to form a closed lifting structure. Nalwa Aero is exploring whether this architecture can improve aerodynamic efficiency and operational capability in advanced air mobility applications.
According to the company, preliminary internal aerodynamic studies indicate the potential for up to 40% improvement in certain aerodynamic efficiency parameters compared with selected conventional configurations. The company has cautioned that these findings remain subject to further experimental validation.
From Research to Flight Testing
The recognition follows Nalwa Aero’s recent preliminary flight testing of a scaled Box-Wing eVTOL aircraft. The tests demonstrated both low-altitude hovering and forward flight using electric propulsion and fully tilting rotors.
The flight tests mark an important transition for the company—from aerodynamic modelling and engineering design to experimental validation of its core technology. Reports describing the test programme note that the scaled aircraft combined the box-wing configuration, electric propulsion, and an all-tilting-rotor system.
Kuljeet Singh Sandhu, Founder and CEO of Nalwa Aero, said the award reflects the company’s belief that fundamental research can enable transformative aerospace technologies, “For us, this award is much more than a certificate of achievement. It is recognition of our conviction that fundamental scientific research can inspire transformative aerospace technologies. When we decided to pursue the unconventional Box-Wing architecture, we knew the engineering challenges would be significant. Today, with our research receiving national recognition and our scaled aircraft achieving preliminary flight milestones, our belief in this technological direction has grown even stronger.” Sandhu also emphasised the company’s commitment to indigenous aerospace development, aligning its work with Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Building India’s Advanced Air Mobility Future
Nalwa Aero is developing next-generation electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for passenger transport, emergency medical services, cargo logistics, and defence applications.
The company’s work has also drawn attention from policymakers. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu earlier met the Nalwa Aero team and expressed encouragement for its indigenous eVTOL development efforts following the startup’s preliminary flight-test milestone.
With a national research award and early flight-test progress behind it, Nalwa Aero is positioning itself as one of the Indian startups working to place the country in the emerging global advanced air mobility market.
By: Sejal Thakur
