Surf Air Mobility is an American electric aviation company. It is the parent company of Surf Air and BlackBird Air, and has entered into an agreement to acquire

Ampaire Ampaire is an American aircraft manufacturer startup based in Hawthorne, California. History The company developed the Electric EEL, based on a Cessna 337 Skymaster (a push-pull aircraft) with a piston engine replaced by an electric motor ...

, a $100 million acquisition abandoned by April 2022.

History

Surf Air Mobility was formed in February 2020 following the acquisition of BlackBird Air. The company also controls Surf Air, a private air travel company providing the ability to access short-haul regional flights that range from 50 to 500 miles. In September 2020, Surf Air Mobility secured a commitment for $200 million in funding from Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM). In February 2021, Surf Air Mobility entered an agreement to acquire Ampaire, an electric aviation company that develops hybrid-electric powertrains for aircraft such as the

Ampaire Electric EEL The Ampaire Electric EEL is a hybrid electric aircraft developed by U.S. startup Ampaire, established in Hawthorne, California. The forward piston engine of a Cessna 337 Skymaster (a push-pull aircraft) is replaced by an electric motor powered ...

based on the

Cessna 337 The Cessna Skymaster is an American twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. Its engines are mounted in the nose and rear of its pod-style fuselage. Twin booms extend aft of the wings to the vertical stabilizers ...

and the

Cessna Grand Caravan The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna. The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982. The production model was certified by the FAA in October 1984 and its Cargoma ...

. Axios has likened the aircraft to the "

Prius The is a car built by Toyota which has a hybrid drivetrain, combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. Initially offered as a four-door sedan, it has been produced only as a five-door liftback since 2003. In 2007, th ...

of airplanes." In July 2021, Surf Air Mobility announced that it has entered into a relationship with

Textron Aviation Textron Aviation Inc. is the general aviation business unit of the conglomerate Textron that was formed in March 2014 following the acquisition of Beech Holdings which included the Beechcraft and Hawker Aircraft businesses. The new business uni ...

to develop an electrified Cessna Grand Caravan, beginning with a hybrid electric Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. Surf Air Mobility has agreed to purchase up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine

turboprops A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...

, with an initial fleet order of 100 aircraft and an option for 50 more.

References

Airlines of the United States Airlines established in 2020 Airlines based in California 2020 establishments in California American companies established in 2020 {{Aviation-stub