Excellent article, thanks.
I was flying a small RC evtol today, almost exactly like that Clark "Ava" configuration in the article. The model was easy to fly and transition to forward flight.
So I don't see how my previous RC helicopter or full scale helicopter flight time would help at all much. The automation is essentially keeping these things upright and stable. Unlike the piston helicopters I flew, that require the pilot do everything including constant engine/rotor rpm control. But this automation reliability scares me. I would want a pilot take over control capability.
I hope he stops at Air Venture on his transamerica flight.
For my experiments, it would need to be much, much smaller and lighter, cheaper.