Joby Aviation has kick-started a nationwide tour of its flying taxi. The first flight saw its aircraft fly over the San Francisco Bay Area and around the Golden Gate Bridge.<\/p>\n
The flight took place around the same time the FAA announced a nationwide pilot program aimed at finally making commercial air taxi services a reality.<\/p>\n
Joby Aviation kickstarts nationwide eVTOL tour<\/p>\n
The Joby air taxi is piloted, though the company eventually aims to automate its flight services. It will be capable of flying as many as four passengers on short, urban trips, reaching cruise speeds of roughly 200 mph. Its fixed wings feature six propellers and are capable of swiveling forward after takeoff for increased speed.<\/p>\n
Joby Aviation\u2019s nationwide tour, dubbed the \u201cElectric Skies Tour\u201d, will include demonstrations in several cities throughout the US. <\/p>\n
In a press statement<\/a>, the company stated: \u201cWith one of the world\u2019s most recognizable skylines as a backdrop, the company showcased its operational readiness in a region defined by traffic congestion, demonstrating that the future of quiet, emissions-free flight, is not just a concept, but nearing commercial readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n The San Francisco flight was conducted using a pre-production prototype, designated N545JX. According to a report<\/a> by the San Francisco Chronicle, the N545JX aircraft \u201ccruised along in virtual silence\u201d as it flew across the bay. Separately, Joby revealed earlier this month that it had flown its first \u201cFAA-conforming\u201d air taxi.<\/p>\n \u201cWith an operational foundation built on thousands of test flights and more than 50,000 miles logged across its fleet, the company is now ready to scale its presence across the US,\u201d the company said in its statement.<\/p>\n The Trump administration\u2019s air taxi push<\/p>\n