Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
Latest from Charles Alcock
FutureFlight
Samad Aerospace Prepares to Fly Half-scale e-Starling eVTOL Prototype
Despite Covid delays, the UK-based company still hopes to get the full-scale version in the air during 2023.
FutureFlight
Private Flight Group Surf Air Steps Up Expansion Into Air Mobility Services
Surf Air Mobility is going public with a $200 million investment from Global Emerging Markets Group.
FutureFlight
Happy Takeoff Fast-tracks Prism Hydrogen-Powered eVTOL For 2023 Service Entry
Wichita-based Happy Takeoff is working on a fixed-wing design that will be able to connect city pairs such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
FutureFlight
Faradair Sees New UK Base As a Springboard For Its Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft
The fixed-wing Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft is expected to make a first flight by early 2024, with the first versions being ready to enter service in 2026.
Aircraft
Faradair's Hybrid Electric Aircraft Finds Fresh Impetus in New Duxford Home
After almost abandoning the UK for the U.S., Faradair is staying on home turf to step up plans to get its BEHA hybrid-electric to market by 2024.
FutureFlight
Otto Taps Piston Power and Laminar Flow For Celera Pusher Prop Bizplane
The Celera 500L promises significantly lower carbon emissions and fuel consumption than existing business jets.
FutureFlight
U.S. Energy Department Supports Hybrid Propulsion Programs With $33 Million Funding
Seventeen different propulsion technology programs are being supported under the U.S. government's ASCEND and REEACH programs.
FutureFlight
SkyDrive Takes Funding Past $50 Million and Flies SD-03 Car In Public
Ten companies led by the Development Bank of Japan raised an additional $31 million for SkyDrive in a Series B funding round that closed on August 28.
FutureFlight
Hybrid Air Vehicles Breathes New Life Into Its Multi-Role Airship Program
The UK-based Airlander hybrid airship program received new government funding but needs far more money to achieve a first flight for the long-running program.
FutureFlight
Vertical Aerospace Unveils Fixed-Wing, Tiltrotor eVTOL
The VA-1X eVTOL will deliver almost three times as much range as the earlier Seraph technology demonstrator that it has replaced.
Charter & Fractional
Vertical Aerospace Unveils VA-1X Fixed Wing eVTOL
The all-electric VA-1X aircraft is expected to enter service in 2024 and will be able to carry four passengers up to 100 miles at speeds of around 150 mph.
FutureFlight
Developer of Diamond Battery Says a Self-Charging Power Supply for eVTOL Aircraft Is Coming Soon
NDB is pioneering the use of nanodiamond batteries that recharge themselves and have almost unlimited life.
FutureFlight
EHang Discloses Plans For Longer-Range Autonomous Aerial Vehicle
The Chinese company says it is close to unveiling an eVTOL design with a range of more than 60 miles, which is almost three times more than its current 216 AAV model offers.
Engines
Self-charging Diamond Batteries Set To Power Aircraft
NDB says its self-charging nano diamond batteries will be far more efficient than current technologies and will not require any supporting infrastructure.
FutureFlight
Ambular Promotes Universal Air Ambulance Concept
An volunteer group called Ambular is designing a dedicated eVTOL air ambulance aircraft and has the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
FutureFlight
Could New U.S. Ban On Government Use of Chinese Drones Impact Autonomous eVTOLs?
An amendment to ban U.S. government use of Chinese drones appears almost certain to become law within weeks.
FutureFlight
Xwing Unveils Plans For Autonomous Cargo Operations
The company plans to start cargo operations before the end of 2020, initially with a pilot onboard a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft.
FutureFlight
Urban Aeronautics Launches Plan For EMS CityHawk EVTOL
Urban Aeronautics is working with EMS operator Hatzolah Air to adapt its planned CityHawk VTOL aircraft for emergency service applications.
Aircraft
Urban Aeronautics Launches Plan for EMS CityHawk VTOL
Urban Aeronautics is working with EMS operator Hatzolah Air to adapt its planned CityHawk VTOL aircraft for emergency service applications.
Aircraft
Xwing Unveils Plans for Autonomous Cargo Operations
Xwing is about to start cargo operations in a Cessna Grand Caravan equipped with its autonomous flight control system, but initially with a pilot onboard.
FutureFlight
EHang Prepares to Start Urban Air Mobility Operational Trials in Linz
Flight trials with the 216 AAV are set to start before the end of 2020, leading to construction of vertiports in the Austrian city during 2021.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Happy Takeoff White Paper Makes the Case for Hydrogen to Power Advanced Air Mobility
The aircraft developer says that by 2026 hydrogen fuel cells will be more viable for aircraft propulsion than batteries or internal combustion engines.
FutureFlight
Engine Maker MTU Teams with DLR on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Propulsion Project
The companies will jointly develop the technology for fixed-wing aircraft.
Aircraft
MTU Teams with DLR To Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cells
MTU Aero Engines and Germany's DLR aerospace research center intend to flight test a hydrogen-powered version of a Dornier Do228 aircraft.
Airlines
Traffic Data Shows How Southwest Overtook U.S. Rivals
Throughout the first seven months of 2020, low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines consistently flew more than U.S. rivals American, Delta, and United.
FutureFlight On The Radar
EmbraerX's eVTOL, Formerly Known As DreamMaker, Resurfaces As Eve
It turns out that in late July 2020, the company filed a U.S. trademark application for its proposed all-electric, four-seat aircraft.
FutureFlight
Bell's New Manufacturing Facility Could Be Used For Nexus eVTOL Program
Bell unveiled its new manufacturing technology center in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 10.
FutureFlight
Bye's eFlyer 2 Aircraft Will Feature ASR's Parachute Recovery System
Aviation Safety Resources is to develop a three-parachute recovery system for Bye Aerospace's eFlyer 2 electric aircraft.
Aircraft
Vertical Aerospace Set To Unveil Fixed-wing eVTOL Design
Vertical Aerospace this week teased eVTOL watchers with a short animation of what appears to be a new tiltwing eVTOL with four propellors.
Aircraft
MagniX Sees Regional Operators as Electric Aviation Pioneers
Electric propulsion specialist MagniX is stepping up flight testing of electric versions of the Cessna Caravan and DHC-2 Beaver.
