The U.S. Air Force has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to bring zero-emissions aviation into the military. Recently, Air Force pilots remotely flew a Joby electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the company’s Marina, California, manufacturing facility. During the flights, the pilots assumed remote pilot-in-command responsibilities and transitioned the flight for the eVTOL. The goal was to prepare the Air Force for delivery of aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first two Joby aircraft are expected to be delivered to Edwards in early 2024.
Photo: AFRL
In related news, Joby has entered into a third extension of its contract with AFWERX Agility Prime. The extension enables options for Joby to deliver up to nine of its low acoustic signature, zero-operating emissions aircraft to the Air Force and other government partners. The Defense Department first partnered with Joby more than six years ago and began working with Agility Prime in 2020. The DOD provides the company with access to testing facilities, early operational experience for government customers, and a partial offset to its research and development costs.
These advancements mark a new phase in the Air Force’s efforts to bring zero-emissions aviation into the military and ensure a robust domestic market for eVTOL aircraft. The Joby aircraft will permit increased utilization and testing of the five-seat eVTOLs by AFWERX and the Air Force Test Center.
According to Lt. Col. Tom Meagher, AFWERX Prime division chief, “This next step of getting Air Force pilots trained and operating Joby aircraft at an Air Force installation is an incredibly important milestone for the program, providing key insights to actual operations, maintenance information, and use case validation for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft. Additionally, the Joby operations provide an outstanding opportunity for accelerated learning with the other Department of Defense services and government agencies, including NASA and the FAA.”
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