Revolutionary Joby eVTOL Air Taxis Take Flight: Pilots on Board for Test-Flying

Joby Aviation has reached a significant milestone in the electric VTOL industry by initiating manned flight testing of its S4 eVTOL air taxi. This momentous occasion was announced with a video, showcasing Joby as the leading team in the race towards industry certification.

Since 2017, Joby has conducted extensive full-scale remote control testing, covering thousands of miles and even setting records for eVTOL speed and distance. Now, the aircraft is ready for human pilots to take control. Four test pilots have already begun conducting test flights in this cutting-edge aircraft.

This achievement is an important step towards the future. While there have been piloted eVTOL flights in the past, such as Volocopter’s famous flying yoga ball moment in 2011, Joby’s entry is distinctive. It demonstrates the commitment of a large company to FAA certification and the willingness to risk the lives of its employees in a revolutionary new class of aircraft.

While Volocopter, eHang, and Beta Technologies have all conducted manned missions in the commercial advanced air mobility space, Joby’s aircraft stands out. Joby’s vectored thrust aircraft is significantly more complex than the multicopter-style aircraft used by Volocopter and eHang. Additionally, Beta Technologies’ aircraft primarily operates using conventional takeoff and landing systems, without the VTOL capabilities yet enabled. Therefore, Joby’s decision to conduct manned flights is not only a significant development but also a historic moment.

The initial test flights were carried out at low altitudes and within a restricted envelope. These flights involved “free thrustborne hovers and forward transitions to semi-thrustborne flight,” meaning the full transition to winged cruise mode has not yet been completed. However, the aircraft has already demonstrated its impressive capabilities in this aspect.