Joby Aviation, Inc. a pioneering company in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, made a groundbreaking announcement today by delivering its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, a remarkable six months ahead of the originally projected 2024 delivery date. Edwards Air Force Base will serve as the venue for on-base operations, marking the introduction of Joby's aircraft for various logistics missions, including cargo and passenger transportation. These operations will be managed collaboratively by Joby and U.S. Air Force personnel, with the added involvement of NASA for research purposes, focusing on the integration of these aircraft into the national airspace—a development poised to benefit the entire air taxi industry.

The Joby aircraft, which has already commenced flying at Edwards AFB, is a significant milestone as it becomes the first electric air taxi to be stationed at a U.S. military base. It also marks the inaugural delivery of an electric air taxi in the United States, as part of Joby's substantial $131 million AFWERX Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force. Joby's ongoing and completed collaborations with the Department of Defense carry a total potential contract value of $163 million, underscoring its leading position in the industry.

Under the Agility Prime contract, Joby is committed to providing up to nine aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies, reinforcing the U.S. government's role in spearheading the development and adoption of eVTOL technology. This marks a transformative era in electric aviation. A second aircraft is slated for delivery to Edwards in early 2024.

The aircraft, produced at Joby's Pilot Production Line in Marina, CA, will call Edwards Air Force Base home for at least the next year, with charging infrastructure and ground support equipment furnished on-base by Joby, housed in a purpose-built facility provided by the Air Force for joint flight test operations. Collaboratively, the U.S. Air Force and Joby will conduct extensive flight testing and operational trials, showcasing the aircraft's capabilities in real-world mission scenarios. On-base operations will also encompass the training of Air Force pilots and aircraft maintenance crews, offering valuable insights into the performance of eVTOL aircraft, while simultaneously affording Joby invaluable on-the-ground operational and training experience as it readies itself for the commercial passenger service launch in 2025.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, expressed, "We're proud to join the ranks of revolutionary aircraft that first demonstrated their capabilities at Edwards Air Force Base, including the first American jet fighter, the first supersonic aircraft, and many others that have pushed the boundaries of aviation technology. The longstanding support of the DOD and NASA has been critical to the rapid development of electric aviation and eVTOL aircraft, and demonstrates how successful public-private partnerships can bring new technology to life at speed. Their work will have profound implications for continued American leadership in both commercial and defense aerospace technology."

Joby's collaboration with the DOD traces back to its engagement with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in 2016, which provided early funding and access to test ranges and expertise, greatly assisting in the development of its aircraft program.

Col Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force, remarked, "Agility Prime's stated objective in 2020 was to work towards an operational capability for transformative vertical lift in the DoD by 2023. The arrival of Joby's aircraft at Edwards AFB is an important step towards achieving this objective."

Maj Phillip Woodhull, director of the Emerging Technologies Integrated Test Force, highlighted, "The delivery of this first eVTOL aircraft is the start of a new chapter in Edwards' rich aerospace history. This partners private industry with the 412th Test Wing's world-renowned test management execution. We are excited to agilely test, experiment with, and evaluate this new technology for potential future national defense applications."

In tandem with the U.S. Air Force's AFWERX program, NASA will also play a pivotal role in supporting testing at Edwards Air Force Base, contributing its pilots, researchers, and equipment in its commitment to advancing the Advanced Air Mobility industry. NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, situated on Edwards Air Force Base, has a storied history of contributing to significant milestones in aviation and space technology.

With a range of up to 100 miles, ample energy reserves, and a top speed of 200 mph, Joby's aircraft can swiftly and quietly transport a pilot and four passengers, all while emitting zero operational emissions.

Source:businesswire.com