On eVTOL Tracking, Illegal Charters and Socks
Free socks anyone?
Not the usual article today—just a few housekeeping notes.
Substack isn’t a perfect platform for writers trying to reach readers. You can read it on desktop, of course, but the platform clearly prefers people to use the app. For many of us that just means another app on an already crowded phone—and if notifications are turned on, it can get annoying quickly.
So first, a genuine thank you to everyone who reads and subscribes. I really appreciate the support and the time you spend here.
Most articles are behind a subscription simply because these reports take a lot of time and effort to produce. Thanks to those who support the work—it genuinely makes it possible.
If you’re here, I absolutely recommend Kyle Hodgen’s Skyzero Substack, which is part of the SkyZero Electrified Aviation Map.
Kyle has been doing some great tracking of eVTOL activity, and his newsletter is well worth a read if you follow the space closely.
His latest piece looks at the first flight of Joby aircraft N547JX.
Overall, his work is perfect for aviation lovers—which, I suspect, many of us are. We love invention. We love flight. And it’s in that space between the two that aviation keeps evolving.
Back to Joby —
Kyle notes that the eVTOL maker has launched its new merch store and muses whether you might receive a free pair of socks with an order.
That’s pretty funny.
While writing yesterday’s post on Archer and Joby, it reminded me of my own time spent airside in cargo—pallet after pallet of goods, including clothing, weighing tons, plastic-wrapped, and waiting to be loaded.
And socks, as mundane as they seem, move in serious volume. I happen to know two distributors—one shipping containers to Nigeria, the other to Canada—both buying entire shipping containers of them and related items.
And I have my own shipping experience — you really want to move in volume.
However, beyond socks, Kyle astutely notes that there is no Joby LEGO set.
I implore every eVTOL maker to have a LEGO set.
If you want to read more on Archer and Joby, both Hanneke Weitering and Charles Alcock do a great job covering the developments.
And speaking of Aviation International News, I recently had a conversation with Brendan Toomey, CEO of Air Charter Service (ACS) Singapore; Hibiki Umemoto, Director of Sales for Phenix Jet Hong Kong; and the very funny Stefan Wood, CEO of Singapore Air Charter, about illegal air charters in the Asia-Pacific region.
See Illegal Charters Undercut Legitimate Operators in APAC.
Having spent over a decade in Southeast Asia—and still maintaining a consulting presence there—I enjoy covering APAC aviation activity. I hope readers find the discussion useful.
I am going to go claim my free socks — it’s a toss-up between the blue and white sweatshirt. I do like their aircraft t-shirts though. Decisions, decisions.
As an aside, last month Aerofugia opened a merch shop featuring New Year–themed products.
Thank you for supporting independent news!
Stay curious, keep watching the skies
—Jennifer
Nice post Jennifer!
I hope that you will have time to enjoy Amsterdam that is a wonderful city.
All the very best,
Yves