An article in Aerospace America describes Overair’s facility and examines the eVTOL aircraft the company is producing and the differences from its competitors. Company Co-Founder and CEO Ben Tigner believes the company’s rotor design and proprietary technology will be what drives Overair’s success in a competitive market. Overair’s aircraft will use large rotors, and therefore require less than competitors like Joby, Archer, and Volocopter – using only four rotors while others use as many as 18. The rotors are large, but lightweight due to their utilization of carbon fiber composite.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Tag: Joby Aviation
USAF Begins Testing of Joby Electric Air Taxi
Aerospace America reports that on Monday, the US Air Force (USAF) held a ceremony to formally introduce personnel “to the first electric air taxi to be stationed at an American military base: a Joby Aviation S4 tiltrotor.” The S4 will be operated at Edwards Air Force Base by the USAF, Joby, and NASA in order to test its ability to carry personnel and supplies. Edwards Air Force Base 412th Test Wing Commander Col. Douglas Wickert said, “We’re literally standing on the threshold here of a new era in aviation. There’s no doubt that the electrification of aviation is going to be a critical piece in the broader energy transition toward a sustainable future for humanity, and I’m proud that we get to the opportunity to contribute to that. There’s a transformative vertical lift industry that’s emerging, and we need to be partners in it.” The S4 at the ceremony is the first one delivered to the USAF under a $131 million contract between Joby and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s innovation arm AFWERX. The USAF will not officially own the aircraft, but the contract allows the USAF and partners to fly it.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
USAF Receives First Electric Passenger Aircraft Capable of Taking Off, Landing Vertically
The New York Times reports the US Air Force announced Monday that it had “received its first electric passenger aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, a milestone for the companies that hope to one day sell thousands of such vehicles to serve as air taxis. Joby Aviation, an air taxi start-up, delivered the aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California … , Air taxis are typically powered by batteries and designed to lift off and land like helicopters, but include wings to fly like airplanes.” Joby “said that its electric aircraft is substantially quieter than helicopters or planes. Each can carry one pilot and four passengers and travel as fast as 200 miles per hour and as far as 100 miles, according to the company.”
Full Story (New York Times)
Joby Aviation to Begin Manufacturing Air Taxis in Ohio
The AP reports that the same Ohio river valley “where the Wright brothers pioneered human flight will soon be manufacturing cutting-edge electric planes that take off and land vertically, under an agreement announced Monday between the state and Joby Aviation Inc.” Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said, “When you’re talking about air taxis, that’s the future. We find this very, very exciting – not only for the direct jobs and indirect jobs it’s going to create, but like Intel, it’s a signal to people that Ohio is looking to the future. This is a big deal for us.” Joby’s decision to “locate its first scaled manufacturing facility at a 140-acre (57-hectare) site at Dayton International Airport delivers on two decades of groundwork laid by the state’s leaders, Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said.” Joby’s production aircraft “is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles (321.87 kilometers) per hour, with a maximum range of 100 miles (160.93 kilometers).”
;Full Story (Associated Press)
Companies Make Progress on EVTOL Production
Aviation Week posted a slideshow of eVTOL aircraft in development, saying that the aircraft that have been in development throughout the 2010s are “beginning to fly, but the industry’s self-imposed deadlines for certification and service entry are looming, and much work remains to be done.” Supernal’s SA-1 is among the aircraft profiled in the piece, mentioning that BAE Systems is developing the flight control system.
Full Story (Aviation Week)
First Joby EVTOL Prototype Rolls Off Assembly Line
Aviation Week reports that Joby Aviation “has rolled out the first prototype of its S4 electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft to be built on its pilot production line in Marina, California.” The aircraft has “received FAA special airworthiness certification for flight testing.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)
EVOTL OEM Ranking Hold Steady in Reality Index
Aviation Week reports that the ranking of electric air taxi startups “was unchanged in the latest edition of the AAM Reality Index, with Joby Aviation and Volocopter leading the pack followed by a three-way tie between Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies and EHang.” Joby’s front-runner position, with a score of 8.7 out of 10, largely “stems from its hefty cash cushion relative to its main competitors, according to Sergio Cecutta, founder and CEO of SMG Consulting, which publishes the bimonthly AAM Reality Index in conjunction with Aviation Week.” As a comparison, the company “finished the March quarter with nearly $1 billion in cash versus roughly $450 million for rival Archer.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)
Air Taxis Could Lessen Traffic Issues in Major Cities
The Hill reported that electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis is a space “saturated with startups trying to get their product to market.” The idea behind this service is to make such travel affordable and ease traffic grid strain while maintaining a green energy profile for the sector.
Full Story (The Hill)
Delta Invests $60 Million in Air Taxi Startup
The AP reports that Delta has invested $60 million to take a 2% stake in Joby Aviation and could invest as much as another $140 million as the manufacturer of air taxis hits key milestones. Joby makes electric-powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which the company says will begin flying in 2024.
Full Story (Associated Press)
Joby Aviation Receives Part 135 FAA Certificate Early
Aviation Today reports that Joby Aviation “announced that it has received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA.” The award of the Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate permits Joby “to begin commercial operations of its electric air taxi.” Joby “originally expected to receive the certificate for its vehicle – an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft – in the second half of this year” and commence operations in 2024.
Aviation Today (Aviation Today)