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

Lift Aircraft this week announced the selection of composite material specialist Qarbon Aerospace as the manufacturing partner to build its Hexa electric multicopter. The companies will jointly integrate and assemble composite aerostructures for the personal air vehicle at a facility in Red Oak, Texas, using carbon fiber structures made at a Qarbon Aerospace plant in Thailand.
In a media statement, Qarbon Aerospace said it will handle supply-chain sourcing on behalf of Lift Aircraft. The company makes a variety of composite and metallic structures for aircraft, including fuselages, wings, flight-control surfaces, and engine nacelles.
Lift Aircraft is developing the single-seat electric multicopter to be operated under the FAA's Powered Ultralight rules, primarily for leisure flying. These rules limit the empty weight for the aircraft to 254 pounds and Hexa has a maximum takeoff weight of 423&nbsp;pounds. 
Beyond leisure flying, Lift intends to support short personal flights of up to around 15 miles in a new version of the Hexa that it aims to bring to market. In December 2020, Chasen reported that the Lift team had completed "hundreds" of test flights last year. They also introduced several design changes to the landing gear and floats, as well as the means to fold the airframe for easy storage. According to Chasen, the Texas-based company is producing about one of the vehicles each month and wants to double this rate by the end of 2021. At the end of 2020, Lift reported a waiting list of reservations for the Hexa from 15,000 prospective customers.
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Charles Alcock

Lift Aircraft's Hexa single-seat electric multicopter can be flown autonomously, and is mainly intended for leisure or personal transportation use. (Photo: Lift Aircraft)

Qarbon Aerospace To Build Hexa Multicopter for Lift Aircraft

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