Joby Aviation's all-electric vertical takeoff/landing (eVTOL), vehicle has begun its first official tests. NASA is conducting these tests to encourage the development of similar advanced aircraft.
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This is the first time an eVTOL aircraft has been included in NASA's Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign. NASA plans to use the development flight test of a commercial aircraft to improve airspace mobility in America and to integrate innovative new vehicles such as drones and air taxis into national airspace. According to a press release from the agency,
The August 30th to September 10th test of Joby Aviation's eVTOL will take place at the company's Electric Flight Base in Big Sur, California. California-based aerospace company Joby Aviation plans to launch its air taxi service by 2024. However, it must comply with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. These tests with NASA support are a first step in this direction.
NASA's AAM National Campaign is crucial to scientific understanding and public acceptance for eVTOL aircraft, JoeBen Bevirt (founder and CEO of Joby Aviation) stated in a NASA statement. We are extremely proud to have been part of the NASA campaign for electric flight and to have worked closely over the past ten years.
Six electric motors enable smooth vertical take-off and landing. The eVTOL is capable of traveling more than 150 miles at speeds up to 200 mph. The aircraft can transport a single pilot and up to four passengers. Gizmodo last month reported that Joby Aviation claims to be the Uber of the Air. The company is urging its customers to use an app to book flights and to pay similar fees to land vehicles.
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NASA will conduct the first flight tests and monitor the aircraft's performance, collecting acoustic data and observing how the pilot responds. NASA says that the team will deploy the mobile Acoustics Facility and build a array of 50 microphones to measure Joby's aircraft's acoustic profile in various phases of flight.
These tests will expose any potential flaws or defects in the concept and provide data that can be used to develop future models and simulations of advanced flying concepts. NASA and its partners hope to meet regulatory requirements and integrate the aircraft into the FAA's National Airspace System.
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If all goes well, the first set NC-1 campaign tests will follow these developmental flight tests. These tests are expected to start next year. These will be more difficult flight scenarios for the electronicVTOL.
