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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 27/07/2026

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!

View from helicopter windscreen of a glacier flowing through high mountains in Switzerland, with portions of a main rotor blade and instrument panel visible

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 16/07/2026

This was a bad day for everyone involved, including the "bystander" gull that was hit by flying debris from the disintegrating helicopter.

Based on the adequate samples obtained in the examination of this event, the conclusions of the Smithsonian analyses are that 1) A mixed-species flock of Brant and Canada Geese impacted the rotor blades and the horizontal stabilizer. 2) Great Black-backed Gull was hit by flying debris from the tail section at force enough to mangle the
bird and cause the bird wing to separate and come to rest on the rooftop with other helicopter debris. Only female specimens of Great Black-backed Gull were identified from samples in this case. It is unlikely that Great Black-backed Gull would comingle with a flock of geese.

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 11/04/2026

I recently interviewed Joby Aviation's Jon Wagner for @spectrum.ieee.org. Formerly senior director of battery engineering at Tesla, he's spent the past 8+ years helping Joby perfect its eVTOL powertrain. No paywall! spectrum.ieee.org/amp/joby-air...

Composite image with portrait of Jon Wagner, two Joby eVTOLs in flight, and a technician examining a Joby propeller

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 24/11/2025

Investors have pumped millions of dollars into the eVTOL industry in pursuit of "flying cars". We're still waiting on electric air taxis, but in the meantime some of that investment is now benefiting defense tech. More in my latest story for @theaircurrent.com: theaircurrent.com/defense/arch...

Anduril's Omen drone on display at the Edge Group booth at the 2025 Dubai Airshow

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 21/07/2025

The podcast doesn't go into much detail about those elements, but here's a video clip of the rescue to drive those points home!

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... So these are the things I think of now when I see photos of #Kyiv under attack. I hope they all make it through. 7/

Photo of a sign in Kyiv stating "Kyiv is waiting for you after the victory!"

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... and just a ton of great restaurants generally. #Kyiv 6/

A breakfast plate with eggs, toast and vegetables at Glek in Kyiv

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... and mind-blowing pastry shops... #Kyiv 5/

A case of pastries in highly realistic fruit and floral shapes at Honey in Kyiv

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... and a zoo that on the day of my visit was crowded with families with children... #Kyiv 4/

An elephant in an enclosure at the Kyiv Zoo

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... and a jellyfish museum just off the Maidan... #Kyiv 3/

Large jellyfish of the nettle variety swimming against a blue backdrop at the Museum of Jellyfish in Kyiv

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

... and amazing street art... #Kyiv 2/

Mural painted on the side of the building in Kyiv showing various demigod-like figures against a backdrop of fanciful constellations

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 10/06/2025

#Kyiv appreciation thread: A lot of people perceive Ukraine as an undifferentiated war zone, so I thought I'd share some touristy photos from my recent visit to Kyiv. It's a beautiful, vibrant city with incredible historic architecture... 1/

Domes of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv set against a blue sky

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 16/05/2025

This week @theaircurrent.com published my 35-page report on the past, present and future of Ukraine’s drone war, an enormous undertaking that actually started with a post on BlueSky. 1/

Cover image for TAC/Pro Special Report: Lessons from Ukraine's Drone Industry with photo of a Ukrainian soldier holding a Ukrspecsystems Shark UAV

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 29/04/2025

Congrats to Joby Aviation on its first crewed transition flights! For @theaircurrent.com, I spoke with the eVTOL company about how it leveraged uncrewed testing on the way to this milestone—and why it might be a new model for flight testing going forward: theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 27/02/2025

Spot the #eVTOL differences! Top picture is from Archer Aviation's press release this morning, lower picture is from a November 2024 press release. Presumably we'll hear more about their new Midnight prototype on their Q4 earnings call this afternoon.

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 27/02/2025

New perk for attendees of my eVTOL course at Verticon: Joby will be giving us a private, in-depth tour of their aircraft on display in Dallas, plus adding new course material on fire & crash safety. The course runs from 8-5 on Sunday, March 9. Register here: verticon.org/education/el...

Composite image with a close-up flight control view, external shot and cabin view of the Joby eVTOL aircraft. Text says "Joby @ VERTICON 2025, Booth 7444, Hall D"

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 25/02/2025

Reminder: There's still time to sign up for my eVTOL course at Verticon in Dallas on March 9! I have amazing guest speakers, we're going to be covering lots of new ground, and you'll get a free trial sub to @theaircurrent.com. Register here: verticon.org/education/el...

Composite image of four different full-size eVTOL aircraft in flight, including models from Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies and Vertical Aerospace

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 14/02/2025

For Black History Month, my niece was assigned to do a one-pager on a person of her choosing. She picked Bessie Coleman. I'm a proud aunt! 😊

A handwritten biography of Bessie Coleman featuring a hand-drawn portrait of the black pilot, a biplane, and a notional illustration of her French pilot's license

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 08/02/2025

I'll be teaching a full-day #eVTOL course at Verticon in Dallas on March 9, and I've lined up some fantastic guest speakers from Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies. Find more details here: verticalmag.com/press-releas... And register here: verticon.org/education/el...

Composite image of three eVTOL aircraft types. Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL is shown on the ramp and prototypes from Joby Aviation and Beta Technologies in low-speed flight

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 07/12/2024

Today marks the 20th (!) anniversary of my first helicopter solo. I don’t have a photo of it so here’s a shot of me flying a K-Max 10 years later. It’s been quite a ride!

Cockpit shot of flying the single-seat Kaman K-1200 K-Max helicopter

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 21/11/2024

Here’s the view from the remote pilot seat.

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 21/11/2024

Got to see this thing fly today at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, pretty nifty! Congrats to Hector Xu and the Rotor team on a successful demo of their uncrewed R44 Sprayhawk.

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 16/11/2024

Yep! Photo was from earlier this year when I accompanied my friend and gyro instructor on a cross-country flight from Houston to LA. It was an awesome trip!

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 16/11/2024

Hello new followers! I haven't done a proper intro yet, so here goes: I'm senior editor at @theaircurrent.bsky.social, writing about eVTOLs, autonomy, other emerging tech & aviation safety. I'm rated as a commercial helicopter pilot & CFII. Currently based in Belize, travel frequently for work.

Selfie from a Magni M26 gyroplane over Arizona

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Elan Head @elanhead.com · 30/10/2024

Helicopters do the darndest things. Just wrapped up a few days with PG&E in Northern California learning more about their massive aviation program, which includes insulator washing!

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