"Anyone who has maintained a Black Hawk or Chinook will immediately see it. Chaparral is just easier to maintain. Fewer mechanical systems and fewer people required. That means less time on the ground and more time on the mission." - @USArmy Veteran Joe Lovotti
Chaparral has been putting in the work at our flight test facility completing our latest autonomous flight campaign — and now it's time to take to new skies. New places, new airspaces. Stay tuned!
#Chaparral#eVTOL#cargodrone
This is Kevin Noertker.
He built planes that fly cleaner, not by waiting for the future but by engineering it into the sky today.
As co-founder and CEO of @AmpaireInc, Kevin took a century-old industry and pushed it toward sustainability, retrofitting existing aircraft with hybrid-electric propulsion that’s already flying commercial routes in Hawaii.
His core insight: Hybrid isn’t the compromise. It’s the bridge.
Infrastructure takes decades. Trust takes flights.
Instead of chasing sci-fi jets or waiting for perfect batteries, Kevin built a practical path forward by combining combustion and electric power for safety, scaling through proven airframes, and partnering with the FAA to make electrification certifiable and safe.
Under his leadership, Ampaire has logged tens of thousands of hybrid-electric flight miles, cutting fuel burn by up to 50% and proving the future of flight isn’t someday. It’s already airborne.
His advice to founders:
Be bold but stay grounded.
Build trust before transformation.
And never bet your business on infrastructure that doesn’t exist yet.
The future belongs to builders who make sustainability feel seamless, safe, and ready for takeoff.
Watch our full conversation with @KevinNoertker.
Link in the comments.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) completed rigorous testing and evaluation of Chaparral. During a full week of tests, our teams worked together to validate 22 key capabilities. Chaparral passed all 22 test items to meet their requirements! https://t.co/EuRi8jib1Z
What a memorable day at our ribbon-cutting event last month. Ampaire is still in awe of the incredible support and community surrounding us. We’re deeply grateful to have opened our doors to our partners, supporters, and local community.
https://t.co/lXhiE8M66O
Ampaire’s hybrid electric aircraft represent the most pragmatic path for the electric aircraft industry.
Our latest feature on @WSJ backs Ampaire's vision that hybrid electric aircraft are the true game-changers in the aviation revolution.
https://t.co/cxw4kYgTXB
Our heads may be in the clouds, but our feet are firmly on the ground. We have hybrid electric aircraft in the air today. Not tomorrow. Not someday soon. Now.
Ampaire is unlocking the skies of tomorrow. CEO, Kevin Noertker envisions a future where electric aircraft revolutionize travel, making it cleaner, quieter, & more sustainable
https://t.co/z3QnuvlolB
#electricaviation#travel#sustainability@EmCollective
Elemental Excelerator