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Join the Aero Club of New England for a rare, first-hand look at the rapidly emerging world of
electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
On Thursday, March 5, ACONE welcomes Patrik Muzila, one of the earliest private owners and certified
operators of the Pivotal HELIX eVTOL, for an in-depth discussion on what it's really like to own, operate,
and fly a next-generation electric aircraft.
Weather permitting, Patrik will fly his HELIX to the American Heritage Museum, where it will be
on display indoors during the presentation—offering attendees a rare opportunity to see the aircraft
up close and ask detailed operational questions.
Patrik is an early internet pioneer and entrepreneur whose interests span computer software, renewable energy,
high-performance construction, and eVTOL aviation. In the mid-1990s, he helped develop some of the earliest
database-driven web applications, later co-founding a web software company that was ultimately acquired by Adobe.
After a sabbatical, Patrik shifted his focus to renewable energy and high-performance building, founding
European Architectural Supply, the first company to import high-efficiency European windows into the
United States. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a leading U.S. supplier of high-performance
building components.
Patrik has long followed developments in the emerging eVTOL industry. In 2025, he was selected for Pivotal Aero's
early access program for the BlackFly eVTOL—the world's first commercially available eVTOL aircraft—and
became the second customer certified to fly it. He will discuss his experience as a non-pilot learning to
fly the BlackFly (recently renamed HELIX) and share insights from his first year owning the aircraft.
He will also cover the fly-by-wire, semi-automatic, computer-regulated flight control system, as well as maintenance,
electric charging, takeoff and landing considerations, transport and assembly, and his thoughts on the future of
consumer-level eVTOLs.
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Event Details
When:
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Doors open: 6:00 PM
Social: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Presentation with Q&A: 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM
Where:
American Heritage Museum
568 Main St
Hudson, MA 01749
Cost: (Members must log in for member pricing)
ACONE Members: Free!
Guests and Non-Members: $20 per person
Program:
• Aircraft overview & HELIX display
• Owner-operator experience with HELIX
• Flight control systems, maintenance & operations
• Audience Q&A
Includes self-guided museum tour and light fare with refreshments.
Note: Aircraft arrival and display are weather dependent.
Register early! Seats limited to 100 attendees.
Registration required by Monday, March 2nd.
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Many thanks to our sponsor, American Heritage Museum, for supporting this event!
The atmosphere and dress are relaxed business casual.
Aero Club of New England Seminars are an excellent opportunity to network, reconnect with fellow aviators and friends, and learn something new!
To register for this event, click here!
For club details or to join the Aero Club of New England, visit Member Benefits
The Aero Club of New England:
Advancing Aviation Since 1902.
www.acone.org
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