Flight tests for Joby Aviation's first production air taxi have been successfully approved

FAA has given Joby Aviation a green signal to begin flight tests on its first production prototype air taxi.

According to the recent announcement from Joby Aviation, the FAA has given the business the go-ahead to begin flight tests on its first production prototype air taxi. It's a significant step toward the company's goals of delivering eVTOL aircraft to clients in 2024 and establishing an air taxi service by 2025.

The aircraft can fly like an airplane at up to 200 mph while tilting its six rotors horizontally. It can take off and land like a helicopter. Its range is sufficient for the majority of air taxi operations and is intended to carry a pilot and four passengers up to 100 kilometers on a single charge. Joby asserts that it is also 100 times quieter than conventional aircraft during takeoff and landing and is practically silent in cruising mode.

With full FAA type and production certification, Joby must now get through the toughest obstacle before it can start carrying paying customers on commercial flights. According to aeronautical engineer and director of the Vertical Flight Society Mike Hirschberg, that is most likely approximately 18 months away. The US Air Force will be the product's first customer under a $131 million contract under the Agility Prime program of the military, with deliveries scheduled for 2024.