Joby Commits to Deliver 2 Air Taxis to MacDill Air Force Base

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer has now committed a total of four aircraft to U.S. Department of Defense sites.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 02:53 PM ET

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A pair of Joby prototype aircraft sit on the runway at the manufacturer’s flight test and pilot production facility in Marina, California. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation is expanding its partnership with the U.S. Air Force, delivering two additional eVTOL aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base for training and testing under an enlarged $163 million contract with AFWERX.
This collaboration allows the Air Force to gain crucial operational experience and test various military applications for eVTOLs (e.g., logistics, personnel transport) while providing Joby with early flight data and funding to accelerate its path to commercial service.
The initiative reflects a broader government strategy, involving AFWERX, the FAA, and NASA, to foster the development and integration of eVTOL technology into the Advanced Air Mobility landscape, with a goal for scaled commercial operations by 2028.

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The U.S. Air Force has gotten a taste of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and the agency is clamoring for more.

Joby Aviation, a manufacturer of eVTOL air taxis that it expects to begin operating in 2025, on Tuesday committed to deliver two aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base (KMCF) in Tampa, Florida, to be used for Air Force training and testing. The agreement is an expansion of the company’s $131 million contract with AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Air Force, which calls for the delivery of nine aircraft.