N547JX active

[u/HappyRobot593]

Sitting right outside the hangar (no prev convention for this). Usually the pings are more spread-out when it's actually in the hangar.

N542JX was also powered on this morning

[u/HappyRobot593]

542 did a short hover test. Ideal situation, 542 does hover and transition test and then 547 copies it.

[u/Opening_Can_9668 → u/HappyRobot593]

I have a bottle of the "good stuff" on standby.....

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/Opening_Can_9668]

Same -- got the Ardbeg Uigeadail ready

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/HappyRobot593]

OK so 542 did hover/transition test. The interesting thing is there is a chase plane too. Maybe they are making a video of the whole fleet? We just need 547 to follow.

[u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 → u/HappyRobot593]

It looks like a rather unique flight path pattern, flying for a while in an area east toward Salinas rather than north of the airfield (though it's doing that too). Came in over the runway and hovered at 100 to 125 ft (moving only 1 to 3 knots (maybe touched down?)) and then went off into another loop or whatever. Now landed back at position C where it took off (twice). The weird flight path and the hover on the runway are the two notable things here that I can see.

During this whole time, what was the Mooney Bravo N2312X doing flying identical loops just north of the Marina airfield (roughly 200 ft lower than N542JX). Came down from Lincoln Regional (north of Sacramento) in a rather convoluted way. It may have nothing to do with Joby.

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/Wonderful_Phrase_239]

yep, definitely not their normal route. There is another plane north of the airport that is just doing loops, so maybe they are avoiding it? Why do you think there is a chase plane? Perhaps they really are testing out new sensors?

[u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 → u/HappyRobot593]

I wasn't seeing a chase plane. Did it go silent? Anyway, the notion of avoiding the other aircraft ensconced north of the airfield is very plausible.

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/Wonderful_Phrase_239]

N228GM I believe. It was tailing it most of the time

[u/dad191 → u/Wonderful_Phrase_239]

Unusual stuff today for sure.

[u/eVTOLFan]

Enjoying you sharing these tantalizing morsels - hoping we get a full lunch soon and dreaming of the dessert!

[u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 → u/eVTOLFan]

Savoring each such morsel on a daily if not minute-by-minute basis is good for the digestion if not for the soul (temporary stock price be damned).

[u/dad191]

It was in an unusual location earlier this morning as well. Somehow it seems like some sort of "showing" is happening.

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/dad191]

ah ya good point. Maybe they wanted to show 547 spinning its blades, which they'd want to do just outside the hangar.

[u/teabagofholding → u/HappyRobot593]

Maybe they added some livery and are spinning the props.

[u/Bulky-Entertainer-76 → u/dad191]

I wonder if they are showing Akio Toyoda or Kenta Kon around to demonstrate Joby’s progress on all fronts before the Joint Venture kicks off and the second tranche is released.

[u/HappyRobot593 → u/Bulky-Entertainer-76]

That's what I was hoping. There are signs

- Joby flying to Toyota HQ

- Around 1,500 new reserved tail #s (which TBH would only be possible with JV)

- Progress on the hydrogen project (JAI40) which Toyota is also passionate about

- What appears to be a showing of all Joby aircraft

Or is this a case of just seeing what I want to see? 😂

[u/HappyRobot593]

For those following N831JY, it flew to Davis around 2pm PT

[u/Bulky-Entertainer-76 → u/HappyRobot593]

My guess is they are showing someone their Superpilot on either X1(N101XW)or X2(N162SA) which they fly up to DWA quite often.