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

Samad Aerospace recently completed hover tests with the second subscale prototype of its hybrid-electric eStarling eVTOL aircraft, as it steps up efforts to secure further investment. Flight trials conducted during July focused on validating the flight control system, including the autopilot.
The company, which is headquartered at Cranfield Airport in the UK, is also working on an eSTOL version of the eStarling. Further updates on this program are expected in late November.
Samad says it now holds letters of intent to purchase 119 eStarlings, with each prospective customer placing a $300,000 deposit, amounting to 5 percent of the $6 million total price.
Previously, Samad has said that it is exploring options for relocating&nbsp;outside the UK, pointing to factors such as high costs and a lack of government support. However, the company told FutureFlight that it remains willing to stay in the UK if it is successful in completing its current £30 million ($41 million) funding round.
The eStarling features a blended wing body design and its turbogenerator can run on sustainable aviation fuel. Samad says it will offer a range of up to 800 miles and have a cruise speed of 300 mph.
Samad said that both tethered and untethered hover testing of the eVTOL version of the eStarling went&nbsp;well. “The aircraft consumes 65 percent of the available power to take off and hover with a healthy power surplus for adverse weather conditions,” the company said in a July 26 statement.
Meanwhile, Samad is continuing to advance its previously announced plans to develop a network of “aviation innovation villages” that would be used as bases for developing eVTOL aircraft and their associated supporting technologies. The company says it is now in negotiations with prospective landlords at sites between the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge.
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Charles Alcock

Samad Aerospace has been flight testing sub-scale examples of both the eVTOL and eSTOL versions of its eStarling aircraft. (Image: Samad Aerospace)

Samad Completes eStarling Hover Tests, Seeks Further Funding

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