Key Technical Personnel

Dr. Rafi Yoeli – Founder and CEO: Dr. Yoeli is widely recognized as a leading authority in the field of VTOL aircraft development. He was previously the founder and Managing Director of AD&D, Ltd. (Aero Design & Development), a group leader at Israel Aircraft Industries, and a Senior Engineer at Boeing Aircraft. He serves as a reserve officer in the Israeli Air Force.

Mike Turgeman – Chief Engineer: Mr. Turgeman began his career at the Technion Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he worked on the development of various unmanned prototypes of post stall thrust vectored aircrafts. Later he became a senior engineer and head of the flight mechanics and control group of AD&D. In 1996, Mr. Turgeman established Bartan Technologies, Ltd., which is involved among other things in R&D for VTOL unmanned vehicles for the Israeli Ministry of Defense and other organizations. Mr. Turgeman holds a BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering from the Technion.

Mr. Ely Erenthal – Flight Control System Specialist: Mr. Erenthal has 35 years of experience in Preliminary design of Aircraft and UAVs, Aerodynamics and Flight Control Systems development and Certification. He was responsible for the LAVI fighter FBW Flight Control System development and for the Zahavan/Pioneer UAV's Flight Control and ATOL Systems development. He held positions at Israel Aerospace Industries as Head of Flight Sciences Engineering, Head of Optronics and Navigation Engineering and as Program Manager for F-5 Avionics Upgrade for Turkey, IAI Strategic UAV and IAI Advanced/Basic Trainer in cooperation with ATG (USA company). Mr. Erenthal holds Bsc and Msc degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Technion and MBA from Boston University.

Mr. Shahar Avneri – Aerospace engineer: Mr. Avneri has 15 years of experience in the aerospace industry, working on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Prior to joining Urban Aeronautics he worked at the Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) BEDEK Aircraft Division as a systems design engineer. Mr. Avneri began his career in aerospace as an aircraft mechanic in the private sector, performing miscellaneous projects ranging from routine maintenance of various aircraft types to high- end warbird restoration. Mr. Avneri is an FAA licensed A&P mechanic, and holds a BSc in Mechanical engineering from the Tel-Aviv University.