Joby Aviation Completes Flights of Electric Air Taxi With Human Pilots on Board

Joby Aviation, a company at the forefront of developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has achieved a significant milestone in its pursuit of commercial operations. Four pilots from Joby's flight test team recently took to the skies aboard the company's pre-production prototype aircraft.

These flights, which included critical maneuvers such as thrustborne hovers and transitions to semi-thrustborne flight, unfolded at Joby's Pilot Production Facility located in Marina, California.

Joby Aviation Piloted Flights

While Joby's primary mode of conducting flight tests has been remotely from a ground control station (GCS), employing cutting-edge communication technology and software, this latest development represents a notable shift towards piloted flights. Chief Test Pilot James "Buddy" Denham was overseeing this pilot on-board initiative.

The focus was on assessing the aircraft's handling characteristics and evaluating pilot control interfaces. This invaluable data-gathering endeavor supports the ongoing refinement of the aircraft and sets the stage for subsequent certification testing in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Denham, whose expertise spans the design and testing of flight controls for a diverse range of aircraft, expressed deep admiration for the elegance and simplicity inherent in Joby's aircraft design.

He noted that after overseeing more than 400 vertical take-offs and landings, being seated in the cockpit provided a firsthand encounter with the aircraft's intuitiveness.

"Having helped design and test flight controls for a wide variety of aircraft, including all three variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, nothing compares to the simplicity and grace of the Joby aircraft," Denham said in a press statement.

"After completing more than 400 vertical take-offs and landings from the ground, it is a privilege to sit in the cockpit of our aircraft and experience first-hand the ease and intuitive nature of the design that the Joby team has developed," he added.

Mission Task Elements

Throughout the testing process, Joby pilots rigorously assessed the ease of performing essential tasks and maneuvers requisite for routine operations. These tasks encompassed vertical takeoffs, smooth acceleration into forward flight, precise tracking of the runway centerline, and controlled deceleration for a vertical landing on a representative landing pad.

The scrutiny of these mission task elements (MTEs) holds significance, contributing not only to the certification of the Joby aircraft but also to the collaborative efforts with the Department of Defense.

In a recent announcement, Joby unveiled its decision to establish its inaugural scaled aircraft manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio - a location steeped in historical significance in the aviation industry. This facility is slated to produce up to 500 aircraft annually.