Elan Head
@elanhead.com
Helicopter pilot and senior editor at The Air Current, often exploring the world by air. Signal: elanhead.07
Boeing’s Starliner odyssey takes an unexpected turn theaircurrent.com/space/boeing... (via @juliejohnsson.bsky.social) #staycurrent
Boeing’s Starliner odyssey takes an unexpected turn
Star-crossed CST-100 capsule is poised to play key role for NASA into 2030s as uncertainty shrouds SpaceX’s plans
theaircurrent.com
Whisper Aero tests its ultra-quiet electric propulsors in crewed flight theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
Whisper Aero tests its ultra-quiet electric propulsors in crewed flight
Whisper used a modified Swift 3 glider to test its electric ducted fans, marking its first flight tests with a human pilot on board.
theaircurrent.com
Flight testing Navi’s AI-powered pilot training tool theaircurrent.com/technology/f... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
Flight testing Navi’s AI-powered pilot training tool
Inside the cockpit with the purpose-built AI platform adopted by Embry-Riddle
theaircurrent.com
When Wisk filed its eVTOL patent infringement lawsuit against Archer five years ago, who knew that the saga would end with Archer acquiring Wisk from Boeing? I caught up with Archer’s Adam Goldstein and Boeing’s Brian Yutko to discuss the deal: theaircurrent.com/industry-str...
Archer to acquire rival Wisk as Boeing broadens its asset sales
Plane maker will be able to tap Wisk’s core technology for future aircraft under licensing agreement
theaircurrent.com
Archer to acquire rival Wisk as Boeing broadens its asset sales theaircurrent.com/industry-str... (via @elanhead.com & @juliejohnsson.bsky.social) #staycurrent
Archer to acquire rival Wisk as Boeing broadens its asset sales
Plane maker will be able to tap Wisk’s core technology for future aircraft under licensing agreement
theaircurrent.com
When the FAA released its draft powered-lift safety continuum for eVTOL aircraft two years ago, it appeared to be moving closer to harmonization with EASA. Not anymore. In my latest story for @theaircurrent.com, I break down what's changed: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
New policy moves FAA further from EASA on eVTOL certification
With powered-lift safety continuum, FAA mirrors its existing approaches for airplanes and helicopters
theaircurrent.com
New policy moves FAA further from EASA on eVTOL certification theaircurrent.com/regulation/f... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
New policy moves FAA further from EASA on eVTOL certification
With powered-lift safety continuum, FAA mirrors its existing approaches for airplanes and helicopters
theaircurrent.com
‘Money is being hijacked from what would have benefited a large population to go to the oligarch, ultra-wealthy'
Florida wants to use cash meant for electric car chargers on flying cars instead
‘Money is being hijacked from what would have benefited a large population to go to the oligarch, ultra-wealthy'
bit.ly
I skipped out of Farnborough early last week for a new project I'm very excited about, which also involved flying a JetRanger through the Swiss Alps. Stay tuned!
The engineering behind Anduril and Archer’s Thunder drone theaircurrent.com/defense/the-... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
The engineering behind Anduril and Archer’s Thunder drone
The two companies explain the technology behind their loyal wingman drone for rotorcraft
theaircurrent.com
This was a bad day for everyone involved, including the "bystander" gull that was hit by flying debris from the disintegrating helicopter.
Elan Head@elanhead.com · 2mo agoThe sightseeing helicopter that broke apart in flight and crashed into the Hudson River in April 2025 struck geese, according to newly published NTSB documents (with @willguisbond.com for TAC/Intel): theaircurrent.com/intel/new-nt...
The sightseeing helicopter that broke apart in flight and crashed into the Hudson River in April 2025 struck geese, according to newly published NTSB documents (with @willguisbond.com for TAC/Intel): theaircurrent.com/intel/new-nt...
New NTSB material shows helicopter involved in fatal April 2025 accident struck birds before crashing in NYC, an early eVTOL market - The Air Current
theaircurrent.com
Been curious about @theaircurrent.com’s app but you’re not a subscriber, you say? Quite alright! Airflow, our stream of headlines, is free for all to enjoy. Perfect for following the Farnborough Airshow. Dive in! iPhone: apps.apple.com/us/app/the-a... Android: play.google.com/store/apps/d...
Electra secures the FAA certification basis that eVTOL developers wanted theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
Electra secures the FAA certification basis that eVTOL developers wanted
FAA closes Electra’s G-1 issue paper, confirming Part 23 certification basis for its “Ultra Short” aircraft
theaircurrent.com
The FAA has confirmed that Electra's ultra-short take-off and landing airplane will be certified as... an airplane. Although not surprising, it's a big deal for Electra, which is positioning its EL9 to compete with eVTOLs. Full story in @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...
Electra secures the FAA certification basis that eVTOL developers wanted
FAA closes Electra’s G-1 issue paper, confirming Part 23 certification basis for its “Ultra Short” aircraft
theaircurrent.com
ChatGPT posters and flyers are polluting real life and driving me insane. Please respond to this with the worst ones you've seen irl. I'll post some in the thread www.404media.co/we-are-livin...
We Are Living in a ‘ChatGPT Flyer Pandemic’
"Hey if this is your flyer, I’m not going, I’m not donating, I’m not sharing. Don’t ask me."
404media.co
Fascinating dig into an issue that's puzzled me for months by @elanhead.com - great read too! Opinions split at FAA over prospect of early commercial eVTOL ops - theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
Opinions split at FAA over prospect of early commercial eVTOL ops
Mixed messages from FAA officials signal lack of agreement on revenue operations under eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
theaircurrent.com
The FAA has been sending mixed messages as to whether it will allow commercial operations in non-certificated aircraft under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. My latest story for @theaircurrent.com goes deep on why opinions are divided at the agency: theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
Opinions split at FAA over prospect of early commercial eVTOL ops
Mixed messages from FAA officials signal lack of agreement on revenue operations under eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
theaircurrent.com
Wisk, Boeing’s air taxi firm, rushed software testing, ex-employee claims (via @seattletimes.com / Lauren Rosenblatt): www.seattletimes.com/business/boe...
Wisk, Boeing’s air taxi firm, rushed software testing, ex-employee claims
A former software manager at Wisk Aero, Boeing’s autonomous air taxi subsidiary, has accused Wisk of rushing software testing and retaliating against her for raising safety concerns.
seattletimes.com
New: Coast Guard pilots said they believe risk of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision near DCA airport is *higher* after the FAA changed the airspace in the wake of a 2025 midair crash. Deep dive on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...
Helicopter collision risk higher after D.C. airspace changes, Coast Guard leaders say
Pilots suggest FAA failed to weigh risk of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision when changing D.C. airspace after 2025 midair
theaircurrent.com
"Finally, if we want to be safer then we need to fund the folks that keep us safe. If we want more oversight then we don’t need more algorithms or data tracking or AI or anything else that keeps inspectors sitting at desks and typing on keyboards."
Colleen Mondor@chasingray.bsky.social · 3mo agoI'll have more to say about this tomorrow but here's my latest: an analysis of twenty years of skydiving accident statistics. (FYI - no one was injured in the accident pictured below. It was caused by fuel starvation which is common in skydiving crashes.) colleenmondor.substack.com/p/50-in-ligh...
Sunday bump for my article interrogating the curious motives and pathologies of Martian dreams. (With all due apology to the space-nerds getting exercised on X and Reddit, many of whom are driven purely by a desire to save humanity from itself, I'm sure.) www.noemamag.com/the-mars-del...
The Mars Delusion | NOEMA
Establishing a human colony on Mars is fraught with risk. Why are so many people obsessed with achieving it?
noemamag.com
After quitting the Cold War, US Navy captain William Heronemus and a scrappy crew from @umassamherst.bsky.social built an experimental wind turbine based on helicopter rotor engineering and the rear axel of a truck. Their work birthed the modern wind energy industry.
The Tiny Turbine That Kick-Started the U.S. Wind Industry
A nuclear submarine veteran turned a truck axle into a turbine
spectrum.ieee.org
SCOOP: The FAA is close to picking Air Space Intelligence to build its AI-powered air traffic management tool, passing over Palantir and Thales. Story here on @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/air-traffic-...
FAA close to picking ASI over Palantir, Thales for its AI-powered air traffic management system
Selection will conclude a fiercely competitive vendor challenge process as industry officials express concern over ASI's ability to scale
theaircurrent.com
“What I’ve been saying to politicians for the last 12 months is: Do we want this industry still in Europe or no? Do we want this in Germany or no? And luckily, finally, the answer is yes.” How ERC is continuing to keep Germany's eVTOL dreams alive: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...
Germany gives eVTOLs another look as ERC unveils heavy-lift cargo drone
Lilium and Volocopter failed to win political support at home, but ERC stands to benefit from Europe’s new focus on sovereignty
theaircurrent.com
Helios Horizon pushes the boundaries of battery tech in crewed electric flight theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc... (via @elanhead.com) #staycurrent
Helios Horizon pushes the boundaries of battery tech in crewed electric flight
Program performs first flight with so-called “solid-state batteries” that will power its stratospheric record attempt
theaircurrent.com
Helios Horizon claims to have made "the first flight of a human-piloted electric plane powered by solid-state batteries." Some battery experts would quibble with their definition, but it's still an impressive achievement, as I report for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/feed/dispatc...
Helios Horizon pushes the boundaries of battery tech in crewed electric flight
Program performs first flight with so-called “solid-state batteries” that will power its stratospheric record attempt
theaircurrent.com
Well look at that: @theaircurrent.com's app is now on Android. play.google.com/store/apps/d...
The Air Current - Apps on Google Play
Aviation News & Intelligence
play.google.com
This story is really f***ing interesting.
Elan Head@elanhead.com · 3mo agoYesterday Mach Industries alluded to a DIU contract award for runway-independent strike aircraft. Today they revealed they're working with Whisper Aero on the program, leveraging Whisper's "stall-proof" JetFoil tech. My deep dive for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/technology/w...
