Joby Begins Flight Testing with Pilot On Board

Joby Test Pilot Zach Reeder conducting flight tests onboard the Joby aircraft in Marina, CA. (Photo: Business Wire)

Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) shared on October 4, 2023 that four members from it’s team have successfully conducted piloted flights on Joby’s pre-production aircraft at the company’s Pilot Production Facility in Marina, CA . Prior to this announcement, all test flights were conducted remotely from a ground control station (GCS).

Joby's Chief Test Pilot, James "Buddy" Denham, led the campaign to collect data on the aircraft's handling abilities and pilot control interfaces. Denham is a retired Esteemed Technical Fellow from Naval Air Systems command and has extensive experience with testing, developing, and evaluating a wide variety of aircraft. Prior to joining Joby in 2019, Denham developed Precision Landing Modes, a new flight control concept that helps reduce pilot workload, increase touchdown precision, and safety for carrier landings.

During the flight testing process, Joby pilots were responsible for assessing how easily the aircraft was able to complete a series of maneuvers that are typical for a normal flight operation such as vertical takeoff, acceleration, deceleration, and more tasks. This campaign supports the development of the aircraft and sets the foundation for future testing as part of Joby's certification process with the FAA.

“Having helped design and test flight controls for a wide variety of aircraft, including all three variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, nothing compares to the simplicity and grace of the Joby aircraft,” stated Denham.

About Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient service in cities around the world. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.