The acquisition of a hybrid-electric aircraft pioneer by a small Californian airline could lead to a renaissance in short-range, point-to-point service between smaller communities. In 2020, Surf Air, which offers commuter service for a monthly subscription flying Pilatus PC-12 turbo-props, acquired BlackBird, an aviation marketplace that enables passengers to charter flights on private aircraft. Surf Air Mobility was born out of the transaction, with ambitions to more than just operate aircraft. "Are we going to convert our planes, and only our planes, then buy another 500 aircraft and rule the world?" Surf Air Mobility president Fred Reid president asks rhetorically. "I've been in aviation long enough to know that would be a spectacularly terrible idea. So we really believe that the North Star is the expansion of hybrid platforms across the world."
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