Joby Aviation’s preproduction prototype electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi has been flying for months since the manufacturer began flight testing in June. Now, the company’s test pilots have joined it in the skies.
On Wednesday, Joby revealed that four test pilots have now completed flights aboard its air taxi, marking the firm’s transition to crewed flight testing. The addition of onboard pilots is a major boon to Joby’s efforts to type certify the aircraft with the FAA. The initial crewed tests, which took place at the company’s pilot production facility in Marina, California, covered free thrustborne hovers and forward transitions to semi-thrustborne flight.
