The US' first electric 'air taxi' was just delivered to the Air Force — meet Joby's eVTOL

Taylor RainsJan 13, 2024, 04:21 IST

The USAF just received its first eVTOL from Joby Aviation, which Joby believes to be the first-ever "air taxi" delivered to the US.Joby Aviation

Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation delivered its first eVTOL to the US Air Force in September.
The aircraft will run a range of missions as Joby develops an electric air taxi for passenger service.

Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation just reached a huge milestone in the eVTOL industry.

On September 25, the planemaker announced that Edwards Air Force Base in California has received the first of two electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL for short — and Joby believes it to be the very first electric "air taxi" ever delivered to the US.

Air taxis are essentially giant people-moving drones favorable for their quiet, zero-emission electric motors, garnering interest from both airlines and the US military.

With options of up to nine aircraft, the historic eVTOL delivery is part of Joby's greater $131 million contract with the DoD — a partnership that dates back to 2016 and has helped Joby develop the passenger eVTOL that it hopes to bring to market by 2025.

Take a look at Joby's experimental eVTOL and how testing at Edwards will help further carve a path toward its eventual commercial use.

Founded in 2009, Joby has been developing its eVTOL for over a decade with the help of organizations like Toyota, NASA, and JetBlue Airways.

The Joby Aviation team.Joby Aviation

The US military has played a significant role as well — and the delivery of its first eVTOL puts Joby that much closer to its goal of serving passengers.

Joby eVTOL fuselage on the production line.Joby Aviation

Joby hopes to enter the commercial market in 2025 with its five-seat eVTOL, which can carry up to four passengers and one pilot.

Joby's eVTOL at Edwards Air Force Base.Joby Aviation

Equipped with six propellers and 12 batteries, the eVTOL can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge and reach top speeds of 200 miles per hour.

One of the propellers on Joby Aviation's eVTOL.Joby Aviation

Delta Air Lines is so far the only carrier in the US to significantly invest in Joby, backing it with a $60 million investment in October 2022.

A Delta Air Lines plane.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images

Bevirt told Insider that Joby expects the per-person fares will be priced close to that of an Uber Black.

Joby Aviation eVTOL.Joby Aviation

Before anyone can ride in a commercial eVTOL, though, the aircraft type has to get certified — but manufacturers have faced roadblocks.

Inside the cockpit of Joby's eVTOL.Joby Aviation

As it continues its race towards FAA approval, Joby's recently delivered eVTOL will have a range of missions during its year at Edwards Air Force Base.

USAF pilots learning how to remotely fly Joby's eVTOL.Joby Aviation

Charging equipment and ground support will be provided to Edwards by Joby, but the trials will operate out of a USAF-constructed facility purpose-built for joint testing.

Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, recently delivered to Edwards Air Force Base.Joby Aviation

Charging equipment and ground support will be provided to Edwards by Joby, but the trials will operate out of a USAF-constructed facility purpose-built for joint testing.

NASA also has a stake in the program, with plans to use Joby's eVTOL to see how air taxis best fit into the US national airspace system.

The production process of Joby's eVTOL.K

Joby's eVTOL is not the only historic aircraft to operate at Edwards, with both the first American fighter jet and the first supersonic aircraft setting records at the base.

One of the three prototype Bell P-59s.US Air Force

Joby's eVTOL is not the only historic aircraft to operate at Edwards, with both the first American fighter jet and the first supersonic aircraft setting records at the base.

Even NASA's Space Shuttle landed at Edwards after its first return from Earth's Orbit in 1981.

The rear wheels of the space shuttle orbiter Columbia touched down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in 1981.NASA

Since announcing the delivery, Joby has hit another significant milestone on its road to certification — piloted test flights.

US Air Force personnel with Joby's experimental eVTOL.Joby Aviation

The flights, which were performed at Joby's production plant in California, assessed things like aircraft handling and pilot control interfaces.

Joby prototype eVTOL at its production facility in California.Joby Aviation

Joby has also recently announced Dayton, Ohio, as the location of its first scaled manufacturing plant, where it plans to invest up to $500 million.

Rendering of Joby's Ohio plant.Joby Aviation

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The US' first electric 'air taxi' was just delivered to the Air Force &mdash; meet Joby's eVTOL

Founded in 2009, Joby has been developing its eVTOL for over a decade with the help of organizations like Toyota, NASA, and JetBlue Airways.

The US military has played a significant role as well — and the delivery of its first eVTOL puts Joby that much closer to its goal of serving passengers.

Joby hopes to enter the commercial market in 2025 with its five-seat eVTOL, which can carry up to four passengers and one pilot.

Equipped with six propellers and 12 batteries, the eVTOL can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge and reach top speeds of 200 miles per hour.

Delta Air Lines is so far the only carrier in the US to significantly invest in Joby, backing it with a $60 million investment in October 2022.

Bevirt told Insider that Joby expects the per-person fares will be priced close to that of an Uber Black.

Before anyone can ride in a commercial eVTOL, though, the aircraft type has to get certified — but manufacturers have faced roadblocks.

As it continues its race towards FAA approval, Joby's recently delivered eVTOL will have a range of missions during its year at Edwards Air Force Base.

Charging equipment and ground support will be provided to Edwards by Joby, but the trials will operate out of a USAF-constructed facility purpose-built for joint testing.

NASA also has a stake in the program, with plans to use Joby's eVTOL to see how air taxis best fit into the US national airspace system.

Joby's eVTOL is not the only historic aircraft to operate at Edwards, with both the first American fighter jet and the first supersonic aircraft setting records at the base.

Even NASA's Space Shuttle landed at Edwards after its first return from Earth's Orbit in 1981.

Since announcing the delivery, Joby has hit another significant milestone on its road to certification — piloted test flights.

The flights, which were performed at Joby's production plant in California, assessed things like aircraft handling and pilot control interfaces.

Joby has also recently announced Dayton, Ohio, as the location of its first scaled manufacturing plant, where it plans to invest up to $500 million.

The US' first electric 'air taxi' was just delivered to the Air Force — meet Joby's eVTOL