Joby Aviation conducted a key flight over San Francisco as part of its “Electric Skies Tour,” organized to showcase its electric air taxi technology. Performed around the Golden Gate Bridge, this demonstration flight proved the company’s readiness for commercial operations and demonstrated that air taxis can serve as a quiet, zero-emission alternative for urban transit. Coinciding with the FAA’s new pilot program aimed at implementing commercial air taxi services, this milestone paves the way for a future where multi-hour commutes could be reduced to just minutes.
The “Electric Skies Tour” led by Joby Aviation aims to showcase electric air taxis in various cities across the United States. During the tour’s first stop in San Francisco, the pre-production prototype registered as N545JX completed its flight over the bay in near-total silence. By demonstrating its operational capabilities in an area known for heavy congestion, the company emphasized that electric air mobility is no longer merely a concept, but a technology ready for commercial adoption.
While currently piloted, these air taxis are designed with systems intended for autonomous flight in the future. The four-passenger vehicles can reach a cruising speed of approximately 320 km/h (200 mph). Six tilt-propellers mounted on the fixed-wing structure tilt forward after takeoff to enable high-speed forward flight. Backed by thousands of test flights and over 50,000 miles of flight data, the company notes that its operational infrastructure continues to mature.
Joby Aviation is among the companies selected for the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) announced by the White House. This initiative is carried out alongside other industry frontrunners, including Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies, Electra, Wisk, Ampaire, Elroy Air, and Reliable Robotics. Under the program, Joby secured opportunities for early-stage operations across 10 states: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt stated that this technology will unlock regional potential while safeguarding the environment. Emphasizing the goal of delivering clean, quiet transit with minimal infrastructure investment, Bevirt highlighted that air taxis will ultimately become a seamless part of daily life. Adam Archer, CEO of Archer Aviation, noted that the program will follow a scalable deployment strategy starting in select regions under rigorous safety standards, significantly accelerating the path to commercial service.
Source: Solarbaba – In Turkish
