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.

Managing Editor

Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest, she has returned to the Knoxville area.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Charles Alcock

Read the latest news about Archer Aviation. 

Read the latest news about German eVTOL developer Lilium.

Archer Aviation is acquiring about 300 patents from Lilium, an insolvent eVTOL aircraft manufacturer and former competitor, for €18 million ($21 million) after winning a competitive bid process, the California-based manufacturer announced on October 15. Lilium's insolvency administrator accepted Archer's bid in preference to another made by Europe-based <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-09-19/aamg-edges-closer-buying-liliums-evtol-assets-and-ip">Ambitious Air Mobility Group</a>&nbsp;(AAMG), which has been trying to secure the assets for several months.
According to Archer, the patents it obtained from the German company pertain to various electric aviation innovations, including electric motors and ducted fans, high-voltage systems, battery management, aircraft design, and flight controls. With this acquisition, Archer now claims to have more than 1,000 patent assets in its intellectual property portfolio.
“Lilium’s pioneering work advanced the frontier of eVTOL design and technology, and we’re excited to bring their cutting-edge technologies into the fold at Archer as we advance our product roadmap,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein.&nbsp;
In a written statement, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-09-09/bidder-liliums-assets-sees-opportunity-despite-complications">AAMG </a>complained that the insolvency administrator, Pluta, had breached a written commitment that Lilium's assets would go to the highest bidder. The company, which is a former prospective customer for Lilium's six-passenger eVTOL vehicle, said it had lodged a bid for&nbsp;€23 million and then increased it to €30 million.
<h2>Rival Bidder Protests</h2>
The Netherlands-based group complained that Archer's offer is unsecured and insisted that had received a final purchase agreement at the end of September. It said it had completed all required escrow documents and provided audited bank guarantees in accordance with the process required by the insolvency administrator.
"AAMG is deeply disappointed that its higher, secured offer was apparently not presented transparently and consistently to the creditors' committee," commented the company's leadership team in a written statement. "This decision disregards the value to creditors, undermines German industry, and favors a bidder that has not demonstrated the same commitment to jobs or local economic impact."
In a subsequent statement issued via LinkedIn on October 20, AAMG said that it was "deeply disappointed and frustrated" at losing the bid after spending more than €1 million on due diligence and legal costs. The group stated that it had planned to invest a further €250 million to "revive and complete" three Lilium Jet prototypes.
"We can now see that the administrators favored a fragmented approach selling the IP separately and disposing of the tangible assets via auction," AAMG commented. "We believe this will result in a significantly lower overall return for creditors and a minor lost opportunity for investment into the German and wider European advanced air mobility sector."
According to AAMG, it will now focus its efforts on early plans to develop vertiports and associated recharging infrastructure. It said it will announcing partnerships with other aircraft manufacturers in the near future.
The electric ducted fans that Lilium developed for the seven-seat Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft could open up new opportunities in the light-sport and regional air mobility sectors, Archer said, hinting at the possibility of new aircraft types in its future. The company is currently developing the piloted, four-passenger <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2025-08-14/archer-ramps-midnight-evtol-production">Midnight eVTOL aircraft</a> and has plans to produce an autonomous, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2024-12-12/archer-plans-hybrid-vtol-aircraft-military-use">hybrid-electric defense drone</a> in partnership with Anduril.&nbsp;
Founded in 2015, Lilium burned through more than $1.5 billion developing the Lilium Jet before running out of cash in October 2024 and ultimately <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-21/lilium-closes-evtol-business-new-investment-falls-through">closing its business</a> in February. Since then, bidders including <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-09-19/aamg-edges-closer-buying-liliums-evtol-assets-and-ip">Advanced Air Mobility Group</a> (AAMG) in the Netherlands and California-based Joby Aviation have been eyeing the company’s various assets. Last month, German start-up Vaeridion announced it had acquired Lilium’s former battery manufacturing facility at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport near Munich.
In early September, another German start-up, Vaeridion, acquired Lilium's former battery manufacturing facility and secured access to test facilities at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport near Munich. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-09-24/deutsche-aircraft-backs-vaeridions-electric-regional">Vaeridion</a> is developing a nine-passenger fixed-wing electric aircraft called the Microliner.
This story was updated on October 20 to include further details about AAMG's comments about the bidding process for Lilium's assets.

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