Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation continue their race to commercialize electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, also known as eVTOLs. Joby announced Wednesday it has begun piloted testing of the company’s pre-production prototype aircraft in Marina, California. Previously, most of Joby’s flight testing was limited to remotely piloted maneuvers from a ground control station.
Four pilots completed a series of tests to gain information on the aircraft’s handling and pilot controls. Tests included tasks and maneuvers that pilots would need to accomplish in real-world operation such as vertical takeoffs, transitioning to forward flight, decelerating and landing. Chief Test Pilot James Denham said, “After completing more than 400 vertical take-offs and landings from the ground, it is a privilege to sit in the cockpit of our aircraft and experience first-hand the ease and intuitive nature of the design that the Joby team has developed.”
In August, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Archer Aviation a Special Airworthiness Certificate for its Midnight aircraft, which enables the company to begin its flight test operations. The FAA envisions a new era of urban air mobility, connecting cities, rural communities and downtowns to airports.
Both eVTOL developers said they expect to be flying commercially by 2025. Archer Aviation and United Airlines announced plans to operate air taxis in Chicago and the New York City area. These routes include service between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, and between O’Hare International Airport and a downtown Chicago vertiport. Joby and Delta Air Lines said last year they anticipate launching eVTOL service in New York and Los Angeles but haven’t provided additional details.
Archer and Joby are preparing to manufacture their aircraft in the United States. Global automaker Stellantis is partnering with Archer on an air taxi manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, while Joby will build a $500 million plant in Dayton, Ohio.
The U.S. Air Force is also interested in potential military uses of these new aircraft. Joby eVTOL aircraft are already flight-testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, famous for its role as a backup landing site for the space shuttles. According to a Joby press release, NASA will support the tests with pilots, researchers and equipment.
Archer Aviation is also working with the U.S. Air Force, which paid $1 million for a mobile flight simulator, part of $142 million in contracts. The simulator will be used to train pilots, assess flight controls and help the Air Force understand the capabilities of Archer’s civilian eVTOL aircraft with an eye toward possible military use. “These aircraft hold the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility, and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles, from personnel transport and logistics support to rescue operations and more,” Archer said in a press release.
