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First Electric Flying Taxis Fly Over New York
The first fully electric air taxis have taken off from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Joby Aviation conducted the first demonstration flights of its vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on Friday, and testing continues this week on a project that it hopes will become common worldwide, CNN reports.
TL;DR
- Joby Aviation conducted the first demonstration flights of its eVTOL aircraft at JFK Airport.
- The electric aircraft can carry five people, including the pilot, and operate like a helicopter for vertical takeoff and forward flight.
- The goal is to connect Manhattan with JFK Airport in under 10 minutes, compared to 1-2 hours by car.
- This testing is part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot program for integrating eVTOL aircraft.
- The US Department of Transportation selected eight pilot programs to test eVTOL aircraft for various applications, including urban air taxis.
- Joby Aviation is in the final stages of the FAA's five-step certification process.