Electric Aircraft Are No Longer a Jetsonian Dream

Meet two of the world's first private owners of the BlackFly prototype.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pivotal's BlackFly is the first electric aircraft to land in civilian hands. [Courtesy: Pivotal]

Key Takeaways:

Dave Cook and Dean Owen are pioneers as the first private owners of electric aircraft in the U.S., participating in Pivotal’s early access program for the BlackFly eVTOL ultralight, marking a new phase in personal aviation.
The BlackFly, categorized as a Part 103 ultralight, requires minimal formal training but offers a unique and challenging flight experience due to its unconventional controls and operational characteristics, even for seasoned pilots.
While current BlackFly usage is limited by regulations (e.g., restricted airspace, short flight duration), owners are flying routinely for enjoyment and envision its future potential for practical applications like commuting and emergency services.
The emergence of accessible electric aircraft like the BlackFly and Pipistrel's Velis Electro, due to lenient regulations, is expected to precede a broader electric aviation market, with other eSTOL and eCTOL models likely to proliferate for business and specialized services before mass eVTOL air taxi operations.

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Dave Cook owns a Lancair and made a career out of flying. Dean Owen had never flown before. But both are making aviation history as the first private electric aircraft owners in the U.S.

“The only thing I ever did with an aircraft was jump out of a few for the military,” Owen said. “I’ve got a buddy that used to fly me around for business trips, and on a rare occasion, he would let me take the stick of his Cessna while we’re in the air. But that was it.”