In this episode we are joined by Paul Touw and Scott Drennan from Otto Aviation, the company vying to be the latest entrant to the super midsize segment of business aviation. 

The firm, which has plans to build a production facility in Jacksonville, Florida, makes use of laminar flow technology to dramatically increase efficiency and sustainability versus competitors. 

The aircraft which Otto has called the Phantom 3500, is pencilled in for a maiden flight in 2027. The company is targeting certification with the FAA and entry into service in late 2030.

The conversation touches on the laminar flow technology and its benefits, company philosophy, previous projects, a windowless cabin with "supernatural vision", vertical integration (or lack thereof) and much more besides. 

In our latest episode we are discussing one of AAM’s most critical ingredients, but also one of its biggest limiting factors. Batteries.

Joining us to do so are the co-founders of London-based battery simulation modelling specialist About:Energy, Dr. Gavin White and Dr. Kieran O’Regan. 

The pair founded the company in response to a need to better understand the digital aspect of batteries. How do you predict battery performance on a computer rather than completing physical tests? 

The company aims to answer this question through the use of simulation models that reduce the reliance on physical research and, in turn, cut down the development time to get new battery products to market. 

The conversation touches on About:Energy's growth, battery chemistries, cell selection for various use cases, the wider battery market and impacts of geopolitics. Plus much more. 

In this episode we are joined by David Smith, CEO of California-based Robinson Helicopter Company. 

David took up his post in early 2024 having spent 18 years at Textron, which incorporated 13 years at Bell in various roles. 

Since joining Robinson he has made innovation a key focus for the company. Key highlights include announcing the all-new R88, the acquisition of Ascent Aerosystems and – revealed since the recording of this podcast – a joint project with MagniX to electrify an R66. 

An outspoken commentator on the AAM industry, the conversation touches on eVTOLs,  the potential of Ascent and the strategy for Robinson, as well as the need to grow the domestic supply chain in the US. Plus much more. 

In this episode we are joined by Addison Ferrell, director of infrastructure at Skyports Infrastructure, to talk all things vertiports.

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Addison joined Skyports in 2021 after about five years at McKinsey. Before that he was at GE Aviation in various roles, including as a composite design engineer. 

We discuss the work Skyports has been doing globally, including the recent completion of its first vertiport in the UK and the ongoing buildout of infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. 

We also touch on the importance of the surrounding ecosystem to day one operations, as well as future growth and Skyports' place within it. Plus much more. 

In this episode we jump into the world of blended-wing body aircraft and more specifically JetZero, the company leading the charge to make these aircraft a commercial reality.

Joining us to do so we have Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero. 

A California-based company, although it has just announced its first facility to be built in Greensboro, North Carolina, JetZero is developing a blended wing body aircraft, that flips the script on the tube-and-wing designs that have become synonymous with so much of aircraft development. 

Designed to be way more fuel efficient and with reduced emissions, JetZero is targeting commercial and military markets with its Z4 aircraft.

We discuss the vision behind JetZero, how it was founded, aircraft development progress, its new facility, the philosophy behind blended-wing bodies and much more besides.

In this episode we are joined by Kevin Noertker, CEO and co-founder of hybrid-electric propulsion systems developer Ampaire.

Since launching Ampaire in 2016 alongside Cory Combs, the Long Beach, California-based company has taken a leading approach to the development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation and has most recently had its G-1 certification authorisation approved by the FAA. A first of its kind of this type of system in the US.

Formerly of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and Surf Air Mobility, Kevin is also currently commissioner for economic development for the City of Long Beach. 

We discuss the G-1 basis from the FAA and upcoming flight testing to why hybrid-electric makes sense with today's technology and what Kevin would do if resources were limitless. Plus much more.

In this episode we welcome on Michael Cervenka, chief commercial and strategy officer of Vertical Aerospace. 

Cervenka joined Bristol-based eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical in the summer of 2019 and has played a key role in the company’s development since then. 

Vertical is developing an electric VTOL-capable aircraft capable of carrying one pilot and four passengers at a cruise speed of 150mph for up to 100 miles. The programme has recently achieved some significant flight test milestones including piloted wing-borne flight and is close to hitting the eVTOL 'Holy Grail' of piloted transition flight. 

Before joining Vertical, Michael spent two decades at Rolls-Royce in multiple roles including chief functional engineer for Civil Large Fleet Engines and head of Future Business Propositions. 

In this episode we welcome co-founder and CEO Eloa Guillotin and chief engineer Luiz Oliveira from Beyond Aero. 

Beyond is a Toulouse, France-based aircraft developer building the BYA-1 — a hydrogen-electric business aircraft targeted at sustainable business aviation with routes like Paris–Nice and Paris–Geneva.

Guillotin and Oliveira share how the story behind the company's founding during the pandemic, why hydrogen fuel cells are key to decarbonising flight and how a modular architecture using off-the-shelf components eases certification under EASA's CS23 standards.

They also emphasise how designing the aircraft from scratch enables efficiency, safety and performance. And much more besides.

In this episode Eric Allison, head of product at Joby Aviation brings us up to speed with where the California-based eVTOL developer is at today.

He discusses partnerships with airlines and cities including Virgin Airlines and Dubai. Allison emphasises the importance of sustainability, cost-effectiveness and public acceptance to scaling operations. 

Additionally, he touches on timelines for commercial operations, potential use cases beyond urban air mobility and the evolving competitive landscape. 

Challenges such as battery technology, certification hurdles and airspace management amongst other topics also come up in conversation.

In this episode we have none other than Gregory Davis, President of Raisbeck Engineering.

A licensed commercial pilot and accomplished engineer, Davis has over 15 years of experience in leadership roles within aviation. 

His current post at Seattle-based Raisbeck is with a company that specialises in providing aerodynamically designed enhancements to aircraft – working with OEMs such as Boeing and Bombardier. 

But as well as engineering incremental improvement, something aviation has become accustomed to, Davis has also immersed himself in the other end of the spectrum, namely the electric aircraft startup world, formerly heading up Eviation.