Joby Aviation has delivered the first Evtol aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, to demonstrate various logistics missions, including cargo and passenger transportation by the USAF.
Joby Aviation, a company focused on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, has delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, six months ahead of the expected 2024 delivery date. This on-base operation will be used to demonstrate various logistics missions, including cargo and passenger transportation, and will be operated by both Joby and U.S. Air Force personnel.
Joby’s aircraft, already flying at Edwards AFB, is the first electric air taxi to be stationed on a U.S. military base. It is part of Joby’s $131 million AFWERX Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force. This contract includes the provision of up to nine aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies.
“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,” said Col Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department, Air Force.
The partnership between Joby and the U.S. Air Force aims to demonstrate the capabilities of eVTOL aircraft in realistic mission settings, including training of Air Force pilots and aircraft maintenance crews. The on-base operations will provide valuable insights into the performance of eVTOL aircraft for both the U.S. Air Force and Joby as it prepares for the launch of commercial passenger service in 2025.
“The delivery of this first eVTOL aircraft is the start of a new chapter in Edwards’ rich aerospace history,” notes Maj Phillip Woodhull, director, Emerging Technologies Integrated Test Force. “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,” he further added.
Joby’s partnership with the DOD dates back to 2016 when it engaged with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This partnership provided early funding and access to test ranges and expertise that aided the development of its eVTOL aircraft program.
“NASA’s participation in the Joby and AFWERX project will provide our researchers with hands-on experience with a representative eVTOL vehicle, concentrated on how these types of aircraft could fit into the national airspace for everyday use, that will inform NASA’s effort in supporting the entire eVTOL industry,” said Wayne Ringelberg, research pilot, NASA. “The research will include a focus on handling qualities evaluation tools, autonomy, and airspace integration, which is all needed research to push the industry forward,” he further added.
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Joby’s eVTOL aircraft has a range of up to 100 miles, a top speed of 200 mph, and is capable of transporting a pilot and four passengers with zero operating emissions.
