Innovative aircraft interview: Jean Botti, CEO of VoltAero

08/17/20 • 28 min

The Aerospace Testing International Podcast

In this second in our series of podcasts with company's testing innovative aircraft at Aerospace Testing International, we talk to Jean Botti, CEO of French aircraft-development company VoltAero.
VoltAero is one of a handful of companies doing what many others just talk about - developing a hybrid-electric aircraft. The company plans for its Cassio aircraft, which has been flight tested in electric mode, to begin commercial operations in late 2022, just 2 years away. Available in 4,6 and 10-seat configuration, the general aviation aircraft will be suitable for use at smaller, regional airports for 'air taxi' type journeys of up to 600km (370 miles).
Botti, who up until 2016 was chief technology officer at Airbus and was behind that company's E-Fan electric aircraft research project, has a strong vision of a more sustainable future for aviation. His Cassio aircraft has a clear parthway to certification, making this a company and development and testing program to keep an eye on.

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Interview: Robert Dingemanse, CEO and co-founder of Pal-V flying car company

In this interview Robert Dingemanse, CEO and co-founder of flying car company Pal V describes the background of the company, the design of the vehicle and Pal V's approach to testing, certification and marketing the Liberty, which will be certified for road use this summer and use in the air by the end of next year.

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Testing innovation interview: Dean Moore, flight test specialist, Vertical Aerospace

Aerospace Testing International’s testing innovation podcast, episode number 3 features an interview with Dean Moore, flight test specialist at Vertical Aerospace.

Vertical Aerospace is a startup based in Bristol, UK that is making good progress developing an eVTOL air taxi that it initially wants to operate in between cities.

After finishing the testing of its prototypes, Vertical Aerospace released the details of its production aircraft, the VA-1X this summer. It also announced its first supplier partnership with Honeywell for the avionics earlier this year.
But most importantly, the company recruited Dean to head up its flight-testing program, which is planned to start next year.

This interview was recorded during early September, just a couple of months after Dean's recruitment and shortly after the big design. Durng it, Dean discusses the VA-1X aircraft, his plans for the testing program and gives his thoughts on urban air mobility.