Two Joby air taxis (N541JX and N544JX) flying simultaneously in the skies over Marina, CA. © Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation achieves dual aircraft flight milestone

Joby Aviation (JOBY) has achieved a significant advancement in its flight testing programme with the successful simultaneous flight of two of its aircraft. The dual-aircraft operation took place on May 9, in Marina, California, and represents another key milestone as Joby works towards Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification.

This latest achievement follows closely on the heels of another important development: the successful piloted flight of a Joby aircraft transitioning fully from vertical take-off to cruise flight and returning again—demonstrating the aircraft's full operational profile with a pilot onboard.

JoeBen Bevirt, Joby's founder and CEO, praised the team's progress: “This achievement not only demonstrates Joby's leadership in the sector, it's another indication of the power of American innovation. Our air taxi is designed, manufactured and assembled here in the US, and we are a proudly American company, employing engineers and other experts across 40 different US states.”

He further highlighted the importance of simultaneous flight operations for the company's testing goals. With a fleet of six test aircraft, Joby sees multi-aircraft flight as instrumental in accelerating certification processes and staying on track to begin passenger operations as early as next year.

Joby's commercial ambitions are being supported by strategic partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Uber in the United States, where Los Angeles and New York City are set to become initial launch cities. The company also has its sights set internationally, having recently announced collaborations with Virgin Atlantic in the United Kingdom and ANA Holdings Inc., Japan's largest airline, to bring its innovative air taxi services to global markets.

With its rapid progress in flight testing and a growing portfolio of global partnerships, Joby continues to cement its position at the forefront of the emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry.

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