The High-Flying Antics of Lilium & Their 1,000 Employees
Ah, Lilium, the ambitious aeronautical marvel brewing up in Gauting near Munich. With a team of more than 1,000 employees, they’re busy concocting the first manned flight in a jet that *genuinely* flies. That’s right—a jet that humans will sit in! I can practically hear the office chat now: “What do you think, Brian? Do we have enough widgets to make the wings go up?” Honestly, what do they all do all day? I mean, if we were to take an educated guess, a healthy portion of their time is likely spent sipping coffee whilst believing they are on the brink of revolutionizing flight—or at least perfecting the art of looking busy!
“Engineers carry the stress; the rest carry the coffee!”
Now, let’s talk about APUS over there in Strausberg, developing a hydrogen-powered engine. They’ve managed to squeeze out a mere 70 employees with a $42 million budget. Makes me think: “Do you need to employ over 1,000 people to create a flying car, or are they just really bad at delegation?”
Let’s not ignore the numbers buffet here, shall we? According to various reports, Lilium appears to be more confusing than a cat trying to swim. Are they hiring or firing? Do they have 700 fixed orders or have they inflated that number to 780 in the span of just a few hours? I mean, the only thing more baffling than their fluctuations is what’s been going on in my local pub’s dart league score sheets.
“One minute they’re talking about 1,100 employees, and the next, it’s 700! You know it’s a slow day when you start counting your own fingers!”
Then comes the real kicker—the company led by former Airbus manager Roewe. Oh, you know he’s got a great view from up there. I can just picture him at company meetings, confidently declaring, “Trust the process” while the rest of the staff wonders how on earth ‘the process’ got so messy. With orders flying in from the U.S., U.K., France, and beyond, I bet they’re just taking bets on who will ordain the first “Lilium Frequent Flyer” card.
Now, word on the street is that relocating to France was on the table. Ah, the French! Known for their pastries, pretension, and an aversion to anything resembling ‘convenient jet development’. Is it easier to make pastries in France than fly passengers? The verdict’s still out, my friends!
“You can take the employees out of Munich, but can you take the lederhosen out of the employees?”
The reality is, whether it takes two or two thousand employees, they need to figure out if their flying machines will fly or if they’re just as good at gathering orders as I am at gathering empty pint glasses. The countdown is on for Lilium’s first flight, but let’s face it, if history tells us anything, it’s that the road to the sky is paved with a lot of coffee breaks, mismatched numbers, and the occasional headbutt with bureaucratic chaos.
So, in summary: What’s going on at Lilium? A little engineering here, a bit of coffee there, and a dash of confusion. They might be on the brink of flight—or simply on the brink of needing to hire a really good accountant!
“Who knows? They might just be counting their chickens before they’ve even hatched them!”
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Post from November 5th, 2024 – 8:03 p.m
Over 1,000 dedicated employees are contributing to the groundbreaking project aimed at achieving the first manned flight of the Lilium jet.
I find myself pondering the daily activities of these 1,000 employees. While I recognize that a significant amount of their time is devoted to essential tasks in engineering, component testing, flight testing, and software development, the sheer number still gives off an air of grandiosity.
Additionally, one might speculate that enjoying coffee breaks is also part of their daily routine. In the quaint town of Strausberg, APUS has been diligently working since 2020 on developing a cutting-edge hydrogen-powered twin-engine aircraft. With 70 employees on board and having already invested 42 million euros, they are eager for their first flight, anticipated to occur soon.
You can see from the recent aero reports how Lilium’s metrics fluctuate dramatically. For instance, the company reported numbers ranging from 1,000 to 1,100 employees between 9:09 a.m. and 1:49 p.m. on the same day, while their order numbers also fluctuated—from a fixed 700 to a sudden jump of 780. It raises a question of credibility, especially when considering the possibility of having placed 80 additional orders within just the last ten days.
17.10.2024 12:15
Uncertainties loom over the implications this will have for the Munich-based company that employs around 1,100 people, as well as for the region’s high-tech landscape. Lilium has yet to provide any commentary.
25.10.2024 14:16Uhr
The company, steered by the experienced former Airbus manager Roewe, currently holds around 700 firm and pre-orders from various countries including the USA, Great Britain, France, and Saudi Arabia.
05.11.2024 09:09Uhr
Lilium, headquartered in Gauting near Munich, proudly reported a workforce of approximately 1,100 individuals.
05.11.24 13:49Uhr
As the assembly of the first two Lilium jets reaches its final stages, the combined efforts of over 1,000 employees are pivotal in preparing for the ambitious first manned flight. The company boasts an impressive portfolio of orders, reservations, options, and letters of intent for more than 780 Lilium jets spanning the US, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Post from November 5th, 2024 – 5:59 p.m
The more than 1,000 employees worked towards the first manned flight.
Post from November 5th, 2024 – 5:16 p.m
The entire company would have had to be relocated to France and they probably didn’t want that.
### Interview with Lilium CEO Roewe
**Editor:** Welcome, Roewe! It’s a pleasure to have you here to discuss the impressive journey Lilium is embarking on with your jet technology.
**Roewe:** Thank you for having me! It’s exciting times at Lilium, and I’m proud of what our dedicated team is accomplishing.
**Editor:** Speaking of your team, you have over 1,000 employees working on this project. That seems like quite a sizable crew for developing a flying car. Can you give us a glimpse into what a typical day looks like for your team?
**Roewe:** Absolutely, it’s a bustling environment. While engineering and technical tasks are the primary focus, we also foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our engineers are deeply involved in component testing, flight simulations, and software development. Of course, coffee breaks are essential for maintaining that creative edge!
**Editor:** It sounds like a mix of intense focus and camaraderie! However, we’ve seen some discrepancies in reported employee numbers and order figures. Can you clarify this situation?
**Roewe:** Numbers can sometimes fluctuate as we adapt to our operational needs, and reports may not always keep up with our growth. While the exact numbers can vary, our commitment to transparency remains strong, and we’re continuously striving to meet our goals, including fulfilling both our domestic and international orders.
**Editor:** You mentioned international orders—there are reports of interest coming from countries like the U.S., U.K., and France. How will this affect your production and development plans?
**Roewe:** The interest from these markets is a testament to the global demand for sustainable air mobility. We are scaling our operations to meet this demand and exploring partnerships that align with our vision of regional air mobility. Each country presents unique regulatory challenges, but we’re determined to navigate those effectively.
**Editor:** There were also whispers about relocating parts of your operations to France. Is there any truth to that rumor?
**Roewe:** Location strategies are crucial in our industry. France has a robust aerospace ecosystem, and while we are exploring options, our commitment to Munich and the surrounding region remains strong. We see Gauting as a strategic hub for our development.
**Editor:** With so much competition in the air mobility sector, how do you feel Lilium stands out from other companies, like APUS with their hydrogen-powered aircraft?
**Roewe:** Each company in this space has its unique approach. Our focus on the Lilium Jet’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) capabilities combined with our extensive engineering talent gives us a competitive edge. We believe in sustainable flight, and while innovation takes time, we are on track to make that vision a reality.
**Editor:** Kicking off with internal operations and partnerships sounds promising! As you prepare for Lilium’s first manned flight, what keeps you motivated through the ups and downs of this journey?
**Roewe:** The excitement from our team and potential customers fuels my motivation. Every challenge we face brings us one step closer to revolutionizing air mobility; it’s not just about technology—it’s about improving lives through sustainable transport.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing insights into the workings of Lilium and your team’s aspirations! We look forward to following your progress in the coming months.
**Roewe:** Thank you! We appreciate your interest and support as we soar toward the future of flight.
