Joby Achieves Landmark Crewed eVTOL Transition Flight

Manufacturer becomes the first to achieve crewed transition using a tilt-propeller eVTOL prototype.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 09:34 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Joby test pilot James ‘Buddy’ Denham completes a transition flight of Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi at the firm’s flight test facility in California. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation successfully completed the first crewed transition flights with its full-scale tilt-propeller eVTOL aircraft, moving seamlessly from vertical to forward flight and back.
This milestone is significant because Joby's tilt-propeller design distinguishes it from competitors who have achieved crewed transitions with lift-plus-cruise eVTOLs.
The achievement is a crucial step towards commercial air taxi operations, planned for 2025 with Delta Air Lines and in Dubai, and for securing FAA Type Inspection Authorization.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi developer Joby Aviation this month achieved something no manufacturer has before.

The company on Tuesday said it recently completed a series of crewed transition flights with its full-scale eVTOL prototype at its flight test facility in Marina, California. The transition from vertical liftoff and hover to forward flight is an essential feature of the aircraft, which takes off vertically like a helicopter but uses both a fixed wing and propellers for cruise. It is designed for a pilot to fly as many as four passengers at up to 200 mph (174 knots) on short trips within cities such as New York and Dubai. U.S. entry into service is planned for 2025 in partnership with Delta Air Lines.