Joby Kicks Off Nationwide Air Taxi Tour With Bay Area Flight

‘National showcase’ will include demonstrations in several cities across the U.S.

Jack Daleo

Friday, March 13, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Joby prototype aircraft, N545JX, soars past the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area, the first stop on a nationwide tour. [Credit: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation launched its "Electric Skies Tour" with the first public flight of its eVTOL air taxi over San Francisco Bay, demonstrating its piloted, urban-focused aircraft.
The tour showcases Joby's four-passenger air taxi, designed for vertical takeoff and 200 mph forward flight, and will include demonstrations in cities nationwide.
Joby is progressing towards commercial operations, recently flying its first FAA-conforming aircraft and aiming for type certification within the next year to launch passenger services in major U.S. cities.
These demonstrations highlight the increasing real-world presence of electric aircraft, with Joby actively participating in FAA integration programs across 26 states.

See a mistake? Contact us.

It wasn’t a bird. It wasn’t a plane—at least not in the traditional sense.

San Francisco Bay Area residents could be forgiven for any momentary confusion Thursday as they watched—many for the first time—an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi soar over the bay and around the Golden Gate Bridge. The series of flights were the first in what Joby Aviation, the aircraft’s manufacturer, dubbed its “Electric Skies Tour.”