We Go Inside Joby Aviation’s Pilot Production Facility as It Starts eVTOL Production - FutureFlight

AIN traveled to Marina, California, to see first-hand how Joby Aviation is getting ready to mass-produce eVTOL aircraft it says will transform transportation in and around crowded cities. With help from Japanese automotive giant Toyota, Joby’s aircraft combines advanced composite materials manufacturing technology with its in-house-designed electric propulsion system. Joby is planning for its four-passenger electric aircraft to enter service in 2025.
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[@jdweekley]

These prototypes fly over my house every time they sortie. When people from other parts of the country ask me where I live, I tell them, "I live in the FUTURE!"

[@Q_Channel1]

how loud, or quiet, are they?

[@CraigCholar]

@jdweekley I live near the Marina Municipal Airport and follow the Joby test flights using ADS-B software. They don't directly fly right over any homes on their test flights. They fly over farmland to the north and east of the airport. As far as noise goes it's hard to guage because the test flights are followed closely by a chase plane or R-22 helicopter. During one solo test hop that I captured on video, it hovered very low over the tarmac the entire time, and the noise was quieter than a helicopter would have been.

[@Q_Channel1]

@@CraigCholarnice, good info

[@textech4056]

You might be a very old man before you ever see this thing become a Taxi carrying four people.

[@CockpitScenes]

@@textech4056 I agree.

[@FirstLast_Nba]

Amazing, a few years and this will be a serious game changer.

[@CockpitScenes]

Or some people will be dead.

[@mitseraffej5812]

Good decision to be both the manufacturer and operator. Nothing does a product reputation more harm than losing control over how it is going to be used. Totally autonomous flight is what they should be aiming for, this will give them absolute control over how the product will be used.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

I can't wait to see these in regular service in various cities. I worked in aircraft design for over 15 years and I can see so many advantages in these, but safety is the biggest one. It has 6 pods, but 12 twelve motor systems.

[@textech4056]

If there is a motor failure that aircraft has the glide ratio of a rock.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

@textech4056 No it doesn't. Each propeller is powered by two motors. Only one needs to work. Also, an entire pod can shut down and it still flies safely.

[@textech4056]

@@elephone1542 What do I know. How about one electric motor. One large propeller and you have an electric Helicopter with auto gyro capabilities. Much much safer vehicle.

[@grahammonk8013]

@@textech4056 Did you mean Auto Rotate capabilities? You don't seem to understand this craft is designed to fly with one motor or rotor out. Possibly 2 or more. Auto rotation in a helicopter is not one of the easiest manoeuvres to perform.

[@textech4056]

@@grahammonk8013 Are you going to try and convince me the Joby flying machine can not possibly have a catastrophic failure ?

[@nickoutram6939]

I think it was Elon Musk who stated that building an efficient production line for a product was 10x harder than the product itself... Great to see Joby has such a strong cash balance and some firm orders as we head into a global recession and also strong manufacturing /investing partner with Toyota -good luck Joby!

[@mendesnelson]

Great video

[@nikobelic4251]

Boeing used to operate their own airplanes. That’s how United was started. Anti-Trust broke them apart

[@CockpitScenes]

No chance of that here. The "climate change" fanatics love this.

[@justcommenting4981]

​@@CockpitScenesno this seems pretty stupid to me.

[@bread8176]

If Toyota's claims about their upcoming solid state batteries are anywhere near accurate, that could be huge for Joby

[@ecase727]

Besides the governmental hurdles to get past with such new tech, the biggest issue will be the range and recharge limitations. It is very hard to beat the energy density of aviation fuels, even with the “inefficiency” of the internal combustion engine conversion. I have been in the aviation industry for 40 years, in time I’m sure this will get worked out. How much it will catch on as a practical matter, the market will tell you, but have to admit it is exciting to think about the possibilities.

[@10OZDuster]

R22/r44 are very popular in brazil many sitting on top of buildings they hop from building to another don't you think this would be a possible replacement... a flying taxi is not needed worldwide? even germany is experimenting on a unit volo copter seeing a possibility of short range use of these things. not "all" avaition services are long range some are hop in hop out like a taxi service you find anywhere else around the world.

[@VictoryAviation]

The current range they have will fill niche markets like dense urban or industrial areas. They only need to fly a few minutes in many cases to save passengers hours of time. As the energy density and other technologies improve, so will their range and ability to charge faster. I think all of this will occur at an accelerated rate compared to the last several decades. battery technology is being worked on more now than ever before in history.

[@Oleg50600]

You're absolutely right. But this airplane will still find its niche in the aviation market. It has an indisputable advantage: it is the quietest vertical takeoff machine that can fly long distances at the expense of the airplane's wing. Its noise is comparable to that of an automobile. That's its main feature.

[@ecase727]

Thanks for the reply’s, you all make good points. I guess I am looking at it as a replacement for a conventional helicopter, it is not. It fills a small niche in that market, it certainly will be more cost effective to operate in short duration flights. Perhaps bring this service to more than lifestyles of the rich and famous (or Al least that is what they are counting on). When I started in this industry in 1980 the Boeing 727 was the standard, the 757 was the cutting edge, and Airbus was just the crazy Europeans. Burt Ratan had just built the varezee with this crazy plastic airplane, when the rest or the light aircraft industry was building designs from the 50’s and 60’s. I can’t imagine what the next 40 years will bring, maybe I will get my Jetson’s flying car after all.

[@Oleg50600]

@@ecase727 I like to dream. But I want my dreams to be based on real technology. In the future, we will see small airplanes that will be able to compete in the passenger transportation market with large airplanes. Ticket prices will not be significantly more expensive, but these airplanes will be able to use small airports. (Celera 500L Otto Aviation) We will see completely unmanned airplanes in passenger aviation. Development is already well underway.

[@bille2298]

SO AWESOME !!!!

[@evandrodaolio]

Go Joby!!!! I am a shareholder

[@MrChaitusk3]

May your shares grow multifold

[@CockpitScenes]

Really sorry that you are about to lose all your money.

[@hodduk18]

Me too

[@nametaken24]

🤡​@@CockpitScenes

[@BlueEyed888]

I want my JOBY merch! 😍

[@JohannNorris]

I think you guys are using solid stage batteries 🔋 I also fly drones since 2010 and I also customize my own drones, build my own from air frame

[@williamlai29]

Great! So how do they handle the pigeon problem?

[@dennisreynolds9202]

Happy to see it going somewhere. I pick up a lot of share. Can't wait to see $250 for it or even $450.

[@hooddip8018]

If it goes to $300 I’m hypothetically already a millionaire

[@dennisreynolds9202]

@@hooddip8018 I would be happy as hell too..

[@David0gden]

WootWoot!

[@modellbobby]

Didier is chief of everything :D

[@CombatSport777]

Has joby experimented with toroidal propellors?

[@TheMadMariner]

Who are the competitors?

[@kinkymonkey5815]

They look awesome and seem to truly become reality! Cant wait to fly in one of this! ❤ p.s. 40 ft ... google .... 12.20m ...

[@RussLinzmeier]

At the very end of this video the aircraft made a very slow and very gentle landing but it had serious deflection of it's outboard wingtip motor ... would like to see how those big heavy motors bounce around during a hard landing on a windy day .

[@martinw245]

I didnt see the delection you mention but at this stage of development such things will have been considered. They've already delivered aircraft to the military for testing. You'd be shocked how far composite structures can flex safely.

[@carl9729]

How many engines can it lose and still stay airborne, can they fit a parachute for complete failure

[@Ben-gg9in]

I knew that Joby was the right EVTOL to do better than the competition.

[@hooddip8018]

Better now Archer aviation is being investigated by a law firm 😳

[@skyloveglobalnelsonbarbonc8009]

Joby skyloveglobal❤❤❤❤

[@skyloveglobalnelsonbarbonc8009]

❤globalskylove

[@warhammer40king]

fancy helicopter

[@drgeoffangel5422]

A hybrid-petrol electric plane would make much more sense, in that it would have a larger flight range, until batteries get stronger enough to match existing petrol aero engines. Also it needs longer wings for level flight, plus at least two more passengers to make for a more cost realistic " uber " type craft! The same design, when battery technology matures, could cater for the removable of the petrol engine , fuel tank etc, and replace the space with more batteries.

[@langhamp8912]

Currently all petrol airplanes use leaded gasoline, and children tested around airports have very high lead poisoning (and very low test scores). However, I don't think poisoning people around airports is as important as getting high income earners around faster.

[@dougadams9419]

@@langhamp8912 Unleaded AVGAS is being phased in.The FAA signed on September 1, 2022 supplemental type certificates that allow General Aviation Modifications Inc.’s 100-octane unleaded fuel (G100UL) to be used in every general aviation spark-ignition engine and every airframe powered by those engines. The move was hailed by the industry as a major step in the transition to an unleaded GA future.

[@dmvisualart7308]

Batteries are already heavy. The extra weight of fuel, engine and all other associated parts are dead weight that kills electric range. Keeping one leg in the ICE world works against this effort. It should be all or nothing.

[@aeromtb2468]

isnt there a conflict of interest being manufacturer and operator? ive been on both sides and there was always a strict line of roles, responsibilities and interest.

[@grahammonk8013]

I see the division of builder and operator as more of an issue. This way, if there is an accident, the responsible party is obvious, assuming the accident doesn't involve another aircraft.

[@KeithWW]

Should learn manufacturing from Tesla, they also do electrical/electronics very well...

[@David0gden]

Toyota FTW

[@textech4056]

What is the big break through in battery technology? If they are using Lithium Polymer batteries it will not fly more than a few minutes.

[@HVM_fi]

Test flight time seem to be one hour and fifteen minutes, average light turbine powered helicopter's max flight time is less than ~5 hours. So difference is 1/5, and not ~1/100 like you say.

[@textech4056]

@@HVM_fi What were the parameters of the flight? Was that with a pilot and 4 passengers as is their goal.? Was is remote controlled? You use the term " seem to be". How certain are you of this lengthy flight? Did you witness this or was it a video.? I have seen no video of that craft in continuous flight for no more than a few minutes. You know this is not the first EVtol, to be developed, but it is the first claim these astounding achievements.

[@textech4056]

@@HVM_fi Here is an example of a great Joby introduction ceremony, speeches, high expectations and they never show this craft lift off the ground. Why? I'm sorry. It's events like this that leaves me very skeptical. I'll be damned if I would invest my money in this venture with no more proof than this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2qQc6qIjK2UZqs

[@HVM_fi]

@@textech4056 ~5 hours I get from Eurocopter and 1h 15min from Joby. Maybe you can show where the lie is, instead of hand waving. Also Joby's fan account shows Flight Radar 24 tracks that are ~60min long.

[@textech4056]

@@HVM_fi What were the parameters of the one hour flight? Remote controlled ? One pilot ? One pilot and 4 passengers.? I’ve yet to see a video of long term continuous flight. Why is that.? I remain skeptical my friend.

[@MYOB990]

Have they actually put a person in that thing yet?

[@heteroerectus]

It needs more propellers

[@jpegjpg]

The problems with hele-taxies and hele-transport is limited by policy and practicality not technology. The "problems" they are trying to solve can be solved with a regular helicopter and this evotl does not change any of issues with policy and practicality. Issues like where do you land? How much noise are people going to tolerate? (before people start talking about how motors are quieter, most of the noise generated from helicopters comes from moving the air not the engine so evtols will not be significantly quieter). Flying cars are not going to be a thing it's not practical at scale. Trains are practical at scale. Highways are practical at scale. Hence the reason we use them.

[@gokcan83]

Designers specify blade and relative geometries, and resultant aerodynamics such that the generated noise stays within a certain bubble of space around the propellers. That is why your argument is without a basis.

[@jpegjpg]

@@gokcan83 The "bubble of space around the propellers" is going to be the same size or bigger than a regular helicopter. Changing the prop geometry can decrease noise but it's usually at a cost of efficiency something that a battery powered craft cannot afford. This is not revolutionary it's just tech circle jerking.

[@GarryFishermusic]

While I’m hopeful the safety cheerleader might need to tone down the comparison between twin engine safety vs 6 tilt engine single safety without mention as to payload or passenger count plus pilot

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

Not sure what the payload is, but I believe the passenger count is 4 + 1 pilot. Their closest rival, Archer Aviation is making a 12 rotor/ 6 engine winged EVTOL with the same passenger count + 1000lbs payload.

[@clarkgriswold-zr5sb]

This machine offers *more* risk of engine/motor failure due to the number of motors employed (1 motor, 1X failure rate, 6 motors, 6X failure rate). And the ability to continue flight is no greater than a twin. One engine/motor fails with either and you're immediately diverting for landing. Conventional twin helicopter autorotates with a 2X engine failure. Joby turns into a flippy-floppy rock with two motors failed.

[@GarryFishermusic]

@@clarkgriswold-zr5sb Right on and it’s not flattering for comparison to a twin safety when we don’t know just how many motors could the air taxi loose before flight safety becomes a issue with full capacity and their belongings.

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

@@clarkgriswold-zr5sb LOL! Your comparison is flawed, because it assumes an apples to apples comparison in the types of engines. Internal combustion engines and jet turbines are WAAAY more complex and prone to failure than a simple electric motor (or even six.) Also, having both fairly large propellers and wings, the Joby may not only be capable of autorotation but also gliding, depending on the mode of flight the issue occurs in. Lastly, while 2 or more engine failures MAY be critical for this EVTOL, certainly 1 engine or propeller failure in a conventional helicopter WILL be critical. The math is not on your side.

[@GarryFishermusic]

@@helifanodobezanozi7689 Pardon my butting in but single engine helicopter is an autorotate procedure performed in practice over and over again. Safety baked in the cake . With V TOL question never asked nor brought . I would appreciate it had a more robust q & A happened . Instead of flowering praise and fluff. More like a promo to investors less like an interview.

[@clarkgriswold-zr5sb]

OK, so Toyota's involved. Interesting! Still a longshot, IMO. Based on knowledgeable estimates, the S4 will have a 1,000 lb. useful load. That's 1,000/5 people = 200 lbs. That doesn't include baggage. Going to need a lot of green magic to make this work! (And pay no attention to the man behind the curtain using 40+% fossil fuel and 25% nuclear to charge the batteries.)

[@David-cb4dv]

I’m pretty sure I can speak for most in Scotland when I say that’s an ominous sounding name for a high tech flight company… jobby means something completely different here 🤣🤣🤣 slightly different, but still 🙄

[@bytesandbikes]

I assume there are no Scots in the company 😂

[@user-gv4co6gc1h]

아처도 일년에 이천대이상 생산한다고 하는데 조비는 너무 신중한거 아닌가요?

[@justcommenting4981]

Why produce this thing in such quantity when no one is buying yet?

[@dougadams9419]

Definitely need a small gas engine running a generator to supply the electric power for the motors. That's why a train locomotive is diesel-electric. Not knowing what the power required to run those 6 motors, as a WAG I would think at least 12kW total and Lithium Ion batteries maybe 30 to 45 minutes flight time? And then have to recharge. And I bet they will cost $250K or more each. More like $500K?

[@CockpitScenes]

Why are there no pilots shown flying the aircraft? Are they all afraid?

[@trave9893]

Joby is cool and all, but have you seen a lilium?

[@David0gden]

Liam is my Supervisor @Joby, he is a cool guy and all.

[@spidersinspace1099]

Geeks shall inherit the earth.

[@David0gden]

I knew I spared that giant spider's life for a good reason.

[@Justwantahover]

This is just my biased opinion! Drop the two outer rotors and have only 4 (more powerfull) motors and props instead. And small winglets outboard for enough lift at speed. This would give it way more appeal and way less area footprint. Higher top speed due to less drag, so it would still be nearly as efficient at speed. And VTOL is only less than a minute each way so the extra power required for VTOL would not be too much of an issue (offset by the extra speed, that I think should be significant).

[@fbloggs]

The biggest issue is not what you think it is. It is that the FAA demands that these multicopters be able to survivably land under full control when there is a total loss of all thrust. Helicopters can autorotate, airplanes can glide down to a runway and land at, typically, about 60mph. These multicopters connot autorotate and there are no runways where they plan to operate. The FAA is not interested in talk about the redundancy offered by multiple motors. They've been in this business for a very long time, have heard it all before, and they KNOW that there's one day going to be a complete and total loss of all thrust. So the big challenge - the one that has to be solved before even considering the less critical ones, is, as the FAA stated in that Certifications Requirements document that they published in November, 2022: "The aircraft must be capable of a controlled emergency landing, after loss of power or thrust, by gliding or autorotation, or an equivalent means, to mitigate the risk of loss of power or thrust" ...and they're disregarding parachutes as an alternative because they state that the eVTOLs aren't going to have the altitude that's needed in order for a parachute to sufficiently slow the descent. There is a way to do it but it requires a completely different approach and it's one that has been around for 100 years already. So there's the big challenge. If you can crack that problem then you'll have a really good shot at certification - and only then.

[@Jay-Z33333]

What solutions do you propose?

[@catchnkill]

@@Jay-Z33333 A complete re-design of the machine to adopt helicoptor's autorotate rotors. This is the only way that the multicoptor loses all engines and still be able to glide land the plane.

[@dougadams9419]

IMO. Electric aircraft will NEVER be able to compete even on short routes with a piston or jet aircraft. Electric doesn't have the energy for more than across towns or may 100 miles. And then you have to recharge it for who know how long.

[@mahbubhossainshamol9362]

No more clear skies.. no more peace.. Sigh..😢

[@CockpitScenes]

Six motors means six times more likely to have one fail. Remember, no autorotation is possible.

[@justcommenting4981]

What do you mean? Why would auto rotation not be possible?

[@HVM_fi]

Regular helis have multiple single-points of failures, when multi-copters don't -in theory. But how it's executed in real world tells the real deal. Joby already crashed one prototype last year in airplane mode at in uncrewed maximum speed test, but that's not different from other helicopter test programs (less dead pilots, thought).

[@CockpitScenes]

@@justcommenting4981 Seriously? Because there is not remotely enough energy stored in those small light blades. Also, control is not achieved by tilting and changing the pitch of the blades like in a standard helo. It is achieved by changing the speed of the various motors and keeping the pitch constant. So with no power, no control is possible.

[@Secretlyanothername]

​@@CockpitScenesyou still have five rotors energised.

[@nametaken24]

It can most certainly still fly if it loses one motor.

[@jb5music]

Lithium ion battery technology stagnation. Where do they get the millions of dollars for R & D for all these 20 minute max endurance... lithium ion... disappearing... flying machine projects? They're actually wasting development funds they get from somewhere... We already have decades old track records of this. Example: Volocopter

[@jamisonmunn9215]

As soon as they said California I realized at that second no one will see any of these running. In 2018 I was really excited for Aptera and its still not being delivered.

[@Known-unknowns]

Not a hope in hell. Too noisy, residents are not going to put up with that racket all day.

[@David0gden]

Joby EVTOL is literally the quietest vehicle I have heard outside of an electric car. It's a nice sound as well, you have to hear it in person to believe it. Joby will subtract from traffic and noise, not add to.

[@stephen285]

this is stupid, these can't fly as taxi's in public spaces safely, they are way to big

[@cedhome7945]

I would not market that in the UK as Joby is very close to the slang for poo 💩 please consider some research as people might make the wrong connection with jobby😃

[@rocksolidfossils]

Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and allow Him to change your life :)

[@mightsnow3654]

Such a fad.

[@EarthCreature.]

Analysts warn you better sell your Joby stock. *QUICK*

[@nametaken24]

🤡