Elroy Air, a pioneering company focused on developing an autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial cargo system, has recently bolstered its executive leadership with the addition of two key members. Alex Blake has been appointed as the Chief of Staff, while Zach Lovering assumes the role of Vice President of Engineering.
Alex Blake brings a wealth of experience in the uncrewed aerospace industry, having held notable positions at Wing (formerly Google X), Amazon Prime Air, and Kittyhawk. Her most recent role was as VP of Engineering at Kittyhawk, where she played a central role in the development of an innovative electric autonomous air taxi, supported by Google/Alphabet founder Larry Page. Previously, Blake was a member of the team at Google X responsible for the development of drone delivery and unmanned traffic management systems. Eventually, this led to the formation of Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary that operates across three continents.
During her tenure at Wing, Blake oversaw key areas such as aerodynamics, propulsion, reliability, and flight testing, contributing to the first FAA operational approval for a commercial drone service in the United States. Her expertise also includes serving as a launch lead for Amazon Prime Air’s next-generation drone delivery system, as well as holding positions at Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser space flight vehicle and Raytheon.
Expressing her enthusiasm for joining Elroy Air, Blake said, “Elroy Air’s vision for the future of logistics is truly inspiring. Over the past decade, the drone industry has witnessed remarkable transformations, and we are now witnessing the immense potential of this technology. I believe Elroy Air is at the forefront of a critical market segment. The Chaparral, with its applications in middle-mile logistics, defense resupply, and humanitarian aid, holds significant promise. I am honored to be part of the team driving this vision and eagerly look forward to the journey ahead.”
In her role as Chief of Staff, Blake will collaborate with Elroy Air’s founders to shape the company’s growth and expansion. This will involve providing strategic guidance, allocating resources, and determining focus areas as the company continues to develop and enhance its middle-mile aerial delivery system products and services.
Elroy Air has also appointed Zach Lovering as Vice President of Engineering. Lovering brings a wealth of expertise as an industry leader and eVTOL technical expert. Previously, he led the team at A³ by Airbus in successfully designing, building, and flying the Vahana eVTOL aircraft, completing over 138 flights. At Airbus, Lovering was responsible for overseeing urban mobility operations in the United States and driving the end-to-end system integration of next-generation aircraft into our airspace and cities.
Commenting on his new role at Elroy Air, Lovering expressed admiration for the company’s approach to addressing logistics challenges. He highlighted Elroy Air’s unique ability to leverage high-power batteries and energy-efficient turbogenerators to meet the demands of real-world applications in terms of range, speed, and payload capacity. Lovering intends to combine his decade-long experience in eVTOL system design with the expertise of the talented Elroy Air team to expedite the development and commercialization of their innovative solutions.
Lovering’s primary focus as Vice President of Engineering will be on expanding the Engineering function at Elroy Air, with particular emphasis on the Powertrain, Autonomy, Integration, and Flight Testing teams. The growth of these critical groups will play a pivotal role in propelling the company’s progress towards producing early vehicles and effectively showcasing the value proposition of the Chaparral to potential customers.
The recent appointments of Alex Blake as Chief of Staff and Zach Lovering as Vice President of Engineering demonstrate Elroy Air’s commitment to strengthening its executive leadership team. With their extensive experience and expertise, Blake and Lovering will contribute to the company’s ongoing efforts to develop an end-to-end autonomous VTOL aerial cargo system. By aligning their vision and expertise, Elroy Air aims to solidify its position as a key player in the logistics industry, driving innovation and delivering impactful solutions in the field of autonomous aerial transportation.
