Post-summer clean aviation wrap-up
This is the first edition of the newsletter after a month-long summer hiatus, so I won’t pretend everything in it is breaking news.
Nevertheless, I thought it was interesting to compile a handful of stories that, for one reason or another, have caught my eye in the course of these past few weeks.
So, there we go…
Let’s start with some electrifying news
BETA’s ALIA on tour
BETA Technologies and Bristow have started to test the ALIA CX300 all-electric eCTOL aircraft in southern Norway, with the collaboration of some local partners.
This is the final and longest stage of BETA’s European tour, which passed through the Paris Air Show, where I interviewed founder and CEO, Kyle Clark.
Solar plane flies high
Swiss aerospace pioneer Raphael Domjan took a solar-powered plane made by Elektra Solar to an altitude of 9,500m.
Northvolt, sold
California-based Lyten has acquired Sweden’s once-renewable-energy-star Northvolt, including its gigafactory and research campus in northern Sweden. Crazy to think that not even two years ago it was Northvolt which was expanding in California.
VINI (previoulsy Flyv) operated its first flight
Ok, it is not an electric aircraft yet, but a first is always a big achievement! This on-demand air travel platform is aiming to go electric as soon as the right aircraft gets certified.
You can also listen to the podcast episode we did with its founder, Tomislav Lang, together with the CEO of Electra, Marc Allen, to learn more about this project.
UAV expert looking for co-founder
This is an interesting story: John Lou, an aerospace researcher based in Germany, is looking for co-founders to help him create an innovative UAV.
Lou acquired something of a reputation a few years ago when, at the peak of eVTOL-mania, he predicted the demise of Lilium in a lengthy and detail analysis he published on Youtube.
Video Section
Electra’s demonstrator, in collaboration with Surf air, showcases its ultra-CTOL capabilities at Virginia Tech.
SAF Corner
SAF failures
We often read about new SAF projects, but even amidst the current SAF-scramble, not all projects make it. Reuters have published an infographic of failed SAF initiatives.
New SAF projects
Avia Solutions Group is investing in a SAF plant in Liepaja, Latvia.
Finnair is backing Liquid Sun’s plans to make e-SAF in Finland.
MOL is testing SAF prodution in Croatia.
But…
Southwest Airlines is divesting from SAFFiRE, a company that planned to make SAF through a corn-to-ethanol process. The move takes place barely 16 months after the investment and while Southwest is in the middle of a major refocusing of its business.
New podcast episode
I’ve talked with fellow aviation sustainability podcaster and author, Shashank Nigam, about his recent book, Sustainability in the Air, as well as about the latest developments in green aviation.
The Allplane Podcast #129 with Shashank Nigam (Simpliflying / Sustainability in the Air)
Advanced Air Mobility news
Archer, again in the crosshairs of equity researchers
Archer was the subject of yet another damning research report, this one by Grizzly Research.
And here is a more neutral assessment of the status of three prominent eVTOL projects.
eVTOLs in Asia
Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive conducted, finally, some demo flights at the 2025 Osaka Expo. You can see a video here.
The Japanese company has also found a customer in Indonesia.
In the meantime, Chinese eVTOL firm AutoFlight has landed its unmanned eVTOL on an off-shore platform.
And Hyundai’s Supernal is under new management.
New York’s new JFK airport is taking shape
Executive Spotlight interview with Jennifer Aument, CEO of The New Terminal One. Read it here.
Department of futuristic tech
Funds flowing to potentially disruptive tech
United Airlines Ventures has invested in Astromechanica. The heads of both companies have been guests of the podcast, actually. Listen here to Mukul Hariharan of United, and Ian Brooke, of Astromechanica.
Reliable Robotics is getting money from the USAF to continue with its autonomous flight program for contested environment logistics.
SWISS is investing in carbon removal company Neustark.
ANA is investing in Terraton, a software company whose solutions help boost carbon removal
UNUSUAL AIRLINE OPS
Croatia Airlines seems to have developed an unusual interest in Girona airport, located just north of Barcelona. Between late August and early September will operate 14 (!) charter flights between this small airport and several Croatian cities, apparently due to demand from students.
To be fair, both places have great beaches and landscapes!
WHAT ELSE IN AVIATION?
P2F market: IAI has completed the first B777 P2F conversion.
Lufthansa: the German airline has received the first Allegris-fitted B787-9
Spirit Airlines: it isn’t getting better for the US ultra-LCC.
Gulfstream: has delivered the very first G800 private jet.
