Col. Hank “Hog” Griffiths, USAF (Ret), may not have fulfilled his childhood dream of being an astronaut, but he’s helping the Air Force reach new heights in aircraft technology.

As the chief of airworthiness, test, and safety for AFWERX, the MOAA member conducted a test flight of BETA Technologies’ ALIA electric aircraft this spring. AFWERX, an arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory, is charged with quickly leveraging civilian technology into future operational capabilities in areas like electric-powered flight, autonomy, and manufacturing.

The zero-emission ALIA electric aircraft could be used to deliver cargo or passengers, or as part of rescue operations. (Photo courtesy of BETA Technologies)  

The plane Griffiths flew in March has a traditional takeoff and landing setup. However, BETA is also conducting testing on vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, a capability highly sought after by the Air Force. BETA is one of several electric aircraft companies vying for the Air Force’s business through AFWERX’s Agility Prime program.

Once completed, an aircraft like the ALIA could be flown unmanned to rescue a downed pilot in hostile territory, Griffiths said. These types of planes also could be used in firefighting, humanitarian aid, logistics support, and as passenger aircraft, among other scenarios.

BETA has orders in place for the aircraft with companies like UPS, United Therapeutics, and BLADE Urban Air Mobility, BETA spokesperson Lexi Pace said; Pace called Griffiths’ flight test “the first in a series of milestones and tests that we'll conduct together throughout our partnership” with AFWERX Agility Prime.

[RELATED: More MOAA Members in the Spotlight]

In addition to its versatility, the ALIA is pollution-free, aligning with one of the Agility Prime goals of securing a “zero emission and runway independent aircraft.”

“This is a huge win for the environment and will make air travel less noisy and cost effective,” Griffiths said of electric aircraft technology. “It has been extremely fun and exciting to be at the beginning of this next revolution of flight and see how these innovative companies are tackling the physics of electric propulsion differently.”

Griffiths said it took a team effort to make the test flight of the ALIA successful. He and his ground crew performed a lot of prep work and were in constant communication during the flight. Griffiths spent a week learning about the aircraft before strapping into the cockpit.

“Airplanes now are so highly instrumented,” said Griffiths. “When we see space flights, we see control rooms where they are watching everything that is going on. When I fly, I have 25 of my friends watching and making sure all of the systems are operational and being monitored.”

The ALIA is one of many planes Griffiths has tested since graduating from the Air Force Academy more than 30 years ago. In 2002, Griffiths finished Air Force Test Pilot School and went on to become a test pilot for the F-16 and F-35. He also served in a variety of leadership capacities, including safety-related positions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Edwards AFB, Calif.  

One of the highlights of Griffiths’ military career was delivering an F-16 to Israel in 2005, where he saw firsthand the positive reception the U.S. received from the nation’s government. First constructed in the 1970s, the F-16 remains one of the world’s most popular military fighter jets.

Seventeen years after that trip to Israel, Griffiths is still flying planes that are turning people’s heads.

“We consider electric flight as the third revolution in aerospace, and it will drastically change how we transport goods and people by air,” Griffiths said. “Being a part of the AFWERX team has exceeded my expectations of what Chapter 2 of my career was going to be like.”