Joby’s S4 Completes First Piloted eVTOL Air Taxi Flight Between Two Public Airports
Joby’s eVTOL successfully operated with other aircraft in FAA-controlled airspace, flying between Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY) airports in California.
(Santa Cruz, California) Joby Aviation Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) announced today that it successfully operated its S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle with other aircraft in FAA- controlled airspace, completing the first-ever eVTOL flight between two public U.S. airports, Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY) in California.
Photo of Joby’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in flight between Marina and Monterey airports in California courtesy of Joby Aviation.
The flight marks the first-ever piloted eVTOL air taxi flight between two public airports, according to today’s press release from Joby.
Joby’s flight time from OAR to MRY was approximately 12 minutes over 10 nautical miles, including five minutes in a hold pattern at MRY for air traffic spaces; the piloted flight included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration into the controlled airspace around MRY, and vertical landing.
Per Joby, the flight successfully demonstrated the Joby team’s ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from home base in Marina.
“Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we’re prepared for service on day one,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby. “For years, our flight testing has validated our aircraft’s capabilities, and we’ve done this across a wide range of environmental conditions. As part of the natural progression of our flight test program, it was time to venture further, and there was no better place to visit first than our neighbors in Monterey.”
Photo of Joby’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft landing at Monterey Airport courtesy of Joby Aviation.
The news follows that of Beta’s Alia CX300 all-electric conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft’s June 3rd milestone; the aircraft flew with one pilot and four passengers onboard from East Hampton’s general aviation airport (JPX) to John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK).
