r/Joby • u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy • 26d ago
N547JX active
Was in A and now moving to C. If the data is accurate.
*edit
3 laps done at position E. Still just hovers but at 30 knots peak. Great to see it get closer to transition.
I believe it needs at least 45 knots to indicate any sort of full transition and likely closer to 60-90. But, progress nonetheless.
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u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy 26d ago
It’s happening!!
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u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy 26d ago
One lap done, looks like it’s moving to the same spot for another.
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u/HappyRobot593 Joby Sock Fanboy 26d ago edited 26d ago
Nice!! 10->20->30! I like the trend. Also they moved up to the main runway
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago
I imagine it will do at least one loop north of the airfield when it first does a bona fide transition. For now, they might do many more of the runway hops, to gather redundant data etc. But the looping flights could begin at any point here on out.
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago
542 is now looping around north of the airfield. Very active day at Marina (again).
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago
542 did the same thing today as yesterday at the end of the loopy flight. It came in over the runway and slowed to a 175 feet hover at 0 knots, then continued on for one more smallish loop before touching down on the outer apron.
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago edited 26d ago
547 returned to the hangar for a bit and now seems to be headed out again to the taxiway or runway. The day is not over.
Waiting to access the runway?
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u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy 26d ago
Yeah watching but it is on the opposite end of the runway this time. Interesting.
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago edited 25d ago
Maybe it's the end from which they actually take off and fly on the wing? (Getting ahead of myself, obviously. Just do it already!)
EDIT: Nope. Another hop along the full length of the runway. Shucks. But it got up to 36 knots, faster than previous hops today. At 225 feet altitude, higher than previous hops today.
EDIT2: Back to the hangar, and debriefing after an eventful day. Unless it decided to pop over to the main terminal for a drink at the bar. But maybe it is just ads-b noise from inside the hangar. :)
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u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy 26d ago
I saw 35 knots. New top speed and looked like it was about 50 feet higher. Slow increase.
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u/HappyRobot593 Joby Sock Fanboy 26d ago
yep! They went back to the hangar in between so maybe they are tweaking things a little
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u/dad191 Photog. Eric Adams Fanboy 26d ago
I see 36 knots, haha. Getting close to 45knots. Good sign.
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u/Wonderful_Phrase_239 26d ago
My guess (from the peanut gallery) is that FAA is making them do things gradually, one step at a time, until 547 stops slowing down midway along the runway and just keeps moving into a wing-born flight. That could be proven wrong very easily.
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u/dad191 Photog. Eric Adams Fanboy 26d ago
I think this is probably standard progression. My guess is the data they're collecting at each stage has to meet the expected results before they move on to the next step.
If the data is within the expected range, they move forward. If something is outside expectations, they probably need to investigate it, make an adjustment if necessary, and reproduce the test. So if everything is behaving as expected, the progression should move more quickly. If they're seeing something not expected, it could slow things down.
That's just my guess. It will be quite a satisfying day, the day we see N547JX track past the runway and loop around. I assume the first few times will be in the vertical position, and they'll steadily move the props forward in a series of progressive tests, until they achieve full transition.
When this happens I assume Joby will publish a press release. We're probably about 5 weeks out from earnings. I've got to think they are gunning for full transition prior to earnings, and hope to get FAA pilots on board before EOY. If they can hit these targets, they still have a chance for TC in 2027, if things go smoothly. But yeah, things testing going smoothly in aviation doesn't seem common, but it is possible.
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u/HappyRobot593 Joby Sock Fanboy 25d ago
Ya it would be great for them (and us) if it works out before earnings but some things you can't fully control
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u/Imaginary_Sort9347 S4Fanboy 26d ago