The moment of truth draws near for startup air taxis

July 31, 2024
In a small side room in an exhibition hall at the Farnborough Air Show, JoeBen Bevirt, the founder, CEO and Silicon Valley-style evangelist for Joby Aviation, leans eagerly across a table, his eyes intense, to convey his dream, Dominic Gates writes for The Seattle Times.

FARNBOROUGH, U.K. - In a small side room in an exhibition hall at the Farnborough Air Show, JoeBen Bevirt, the founder, CEO, and Silicon Valley-style evangelist for Joby Aviation, leans eagerly across a table, his eyes intense, to convey his dream. What if you could fly through the air from Seattle to the San Juan Islands in a whisper-quiet, four-seat air taxi in 10 or 15 minutes? Dominic Gates writes for The Seattle Times.  Continue reading original article.

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

31 July 2024 - Joby has developed a unique aircraft that takes off vertically using six large rotors, which are positioned on the wings and tail. Once airborne, the rotors shift to act as propellers, allowing the aircraft to fly like a plane. This electric aircraft is powered by lithium-ion batteries, making it quiet and emission-free. It can travel up to 100 miles, though most trips are expected to be around 20 miles.

Uber and Delta Air Lines are partnering with Joby to create software that integrates their services, enabling seamless connections between Uber rides and air taxi flights. For example, a passenger can book a flight to New York’s Kennedy Airport, take an Uber to the air taxi, and then fly to the airport.

Joby aims to launch its service in Dubai by the end of next year, with plans to expand to New York City, Los Angeles, and Florida. Supported by significant investment, Joby's ambitious vision is gaining traction, but its success remains to be seen.

Related: Joby progresses to testing with production prototypes of its eVTOL

Related: Joby Aviation says it will launch an air-taxi service in Dubai by 2026

Related: Joby announces successful hydrogen-electric air taxi flight

Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics

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