A Bay Area Feat
Joby Aviation flew its “FAA conforming” JAS4-1 N547JX in the Bay Area and beyond this week, the first of many demonstration flights it will perform nationwide as part of its Electric Skies Tour.
“Conforming,” according to Flying magazine, “Means that the model aligns with Joby’s agency-approved airworthiness criteria and test plans. In other words, it is representative of the aircraft the company intends to certify and operate.”
Flying around San Francisco brought out the local news crews, but Joby had a sentimental journey to reward its workers with a view of their long-term achievement. Landing at a quarry near the original Woodpeacker Ridge compound that was JoeBen Bevirt’s home and workshop, N545JX was welcomed by a crowd of workers and their families, alsways prominent in company events. The Woodpecker Ridge site held probably less than three dozen workers in 2012, many of them grounds keepers and gardeners. The blog has reported on personnel growth since then and today the crew numbers over 7.000 on several sites. Even in the beginning, Joby has crafted all the essential components of their aircraft, and continues that tradition today.
Beyond the Bay Area
Joby plans expanded demonstration in ten states over the next few months, showing off the versatility of its craft. Already having flown in several locateions in the US, the machine flown in the Bay Area will be joined by four conforming stable mates in ten U. S. denmonstation areas, ahd earlier prototyoes have flown in Dubai and Japan.
Joby and Beta seem to be dividing the world between themselves with Beta still on its Post-Paris-Air-Show “Grand Tour” of Europe, and having completed a tour of the United States. The Joby experience will approximate the cost of an Uber Black ride, but with much shorter ride times. A smart phone app can summon your aerial taxi and whisk you away to your destination. Typical flight times shown on the Joby Experience site include six minutes from New York’s JFK airport to downtown Manhattan (a 43 minute saving over ground taxi), 12 minues from Dubai International (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah (33 minutes faster than by ground), and 12 minutes from Los Angeles Internation (LAX), “33 minutes faster by air”.
Additionally, Joby’s incredibly animated web site allows a glimpse of what these lucky travelers will experience. Ten American locations will get an early preview of that experience this summer, based on Jonu’d White House backing as a partner in the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Joby explaikns, “Through the program, Joby has the opportunity to begin early operations this year in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah, marking a major milestone for the U.S. air taxi industry with the potential to significantly accelerate Joby’s path to commercial service.” This puts Joby a few months ahead of rival Archer, and marks a major domestic expansion of operations. ”
White House support for the program seems paradoxical, since the President is also promoting fossil fuels over electric ground vehicles.
With the rapid removal of the once hundreds of eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) rivals from the scene, the remaining competitors seem ready to become major players in a new and exciting realm. Other potential rivals in the eCTOL (electric Conventional Take Off and Landing) technology are also competing for passenger seats and revenue, making the electric flight realm a place of wide-open opportunities.