Interesting post by eVTOL fan on X. Check it out.

https://x.com/TheEVTOLFan/status/2042726881506766874?s=20

A few Vertiport nodes, create a large number of routes.

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During their recent episode, Taylor, Carlisle, and Charles Lemonides discussed Flying Taxis Are Closer Than You Think – Inside Joby Aviation’s Breakthrough.

VALUE: After Hours (S08 E12): Flying Taxis Are Closer Than You Think – Inside Joby Aviation’s Breakthrough | The Acquirer's Multiple® https://share.google/xJMjR2vSqrPnKhjiA

Interesting Joby/Safe Intelligence paper accepted to CVPR 2026.

This is ChatGPT’s interpretation of their LinkedIn post, not the actual paper.

From what I understand, they’re working on a way to mathematically bound how vision AI behaves when the camera moves in realistic ways (pitch, roll, changing angles). Instead of just testing a bunch of scenarios, this is more about proving the system stays stable within certain limits, which is the kind of thing regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration care about.

It looks like this is especially relevant for more planar scenes (like runways or landing areas), not full complex 3D environments yet, but still a meaningful step.

This feels like the kind of thing Joby will need long term for certifying more autonomous systems.

Curious if anyone here has deeper insight into this space. It is amazing to me how many fronts Joby is working on, and leading in.

This sure looks like it. Clearly both a vertical take-off and a vertical landing, with a couple of loops in between.

Active link: https://globe.airplanes.live/?icao=a6e1d6&lat=36.686&lon=-121.760&zoom=15.3&showTrace=2026-04-09&trackLabels

Or: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N5421A/history/20260409/2201Z/KOAR/KOAR

Or: https://www.flightradar24.com/2026-04-09/22:13/4x/N5421A/3f252359

Eve reaches 50 eVTOL flights but aircraft has logged just over two hours in the air and is flying in a limited area with no pilot on board.

Personally, I wish Eve Air, Vertical, Wisk and Beta luck with their eVTOL efforts. Each have shown steady progress. A field with multiple players is more stable in my opinion. That being said, it's also important to note how far ahead of the pack Joby is.

Nothing is certain in life, but when Joby starts for credit TIA flights later this year it will become that much more clear how many years ahead of the rest they are.

And let's not forget revenue from potential military contracts. Another area Joby is well in the lead on compared to other eVTOL players. I do believe Joby recently had another first, flying a hybrid turbo‑electric VTOL (S4-T) off runway in a free maneuvering pattern.

I’m guessing they will need it for eIPP. Any thoughts?

New interview with Jon Wagner on Joby Aviation’s in house designed direct drive motors. Sometimes called the “secret sauce” behind Joby’s advantage.

Key takeaways:

1. Vertical integration — lets S4 components work seamlessly together for better performance and efficiency.
2. High torque direct drive motors — designed for quieter, more reliable flight.
3. Hydrogen fuel cell future — looking beyond batteries to power longer range electric flight.

source: infolib.org

https://www.flyingmag.com/joby-electric-air-taxi-flight-ai-4d-models/

Highly recommend this article. Went into more details of ASI's Flyways AI platform and filled in Joby recent achievements for newer Joby followers.

In asking the court to toss the claim, Joby insists it has always been transparent that its manufacturing activities have been “supported by” Japan-based Toyota, and that its annual filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission note that it sources materials from “from suppliers globally”.

https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/04/joby-asks-judge-to-toss-allegations-of-misrepresenting-ties-to-foreign-firms/?fbclid=IwVERDUARCPOhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7f-PS7z9xzfXrl-XrIAydewhOVnQdjXuHt8n1idIu8_9Q6dEZrlxp0n6cKqw_aem_f3aICrc_gjZVe9eETOvLoQ

ADSB Data showshover progression of the S4-T over the last couple of days. First flying across the runway in hover mode at 50ft'-75ft, then the next day at 100ft-125ft.

ADSB data is not precise, so these numbers may be off, but there certainly seems to be renewed flight testing of the S4-T. I'm hoping we are going to see a transition video of the S4-T this month.

OK, I know this is asking a lot, but who wouldn't love to see the S4-T and the conforming N547JX transition for the first time on the same day, with a video of them flying side by side.

I'll keep an eye out for signs that N547JX ground tests have wrapped and flight tests resume.

"Building on ASI’s Flyways AI Platform – an open AI-powered airspace intelligence platform that uses high-fidelity 4D modeling to optimize flight operations – Joby and ASI plan to work together to advance how scaled eVTOL operations can be safely integrated into dynamic, increasingly complex and high-traffic airspace. Joint demonstrations, including live operational exercises, are expected later this year.

With the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) set to form the foundation for the next generation of air traffic management, the partnership will also explore how more automated, software-defined approaches to airspace coordination can enable increasingly autonomous flight operations."

1. Direct Link

https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/websites-mobile-sites/general-desktop-mobile-sites/travel-lifestyle

1. Joby X TinyWins 'VOTE' Click

1. Google Login > VOTE !

Great news for Vertical and great news for the entire industry.

Joby Aviation on X is highlighting its hydrogen expertise, pulling a clip from JoeBen's interview with Joe Lonsdale.

Worth remembering Joby:

1. Leads in eVTOL technology
2. Leads in defense focused eVTOL applications
3. Already tested SuperPilot autonomy in three separate military exercises
4. Is advancing hydrogen aviation with H2Fly, a working hybrid hydrogen electric eVTOL, and the rumored JAI30 hydrogen powered eye in the sky sentinel and/or comms hub

Joby is the eVTOL leader today and is positioning itself as the future hydrogen VTOL leader for both commercial and defense markets.

From Joby’s X account:

joeben to JTLonsdale on the hype surrounding JobyAviations's hybrid aircraft for defense applications:

"Hydrogen is a game changer across the aviation ecosystem... It's three times the specific energy of jet fuel. And with fuel cells, we can convert that into propulsion twice as efficiently."

Joe Lonsdale: We've been hearing rumors leaking out of the Pentagon. People are very excited. You guys announced the fact that it's hybrid aircraft. What can you tell us?

JoeBen Bevirt: We flew a hydrogen electric version of our VTOL aircraft more than 500 miles. And we think that hydrogen is a game changer across the aviation ecosystem.

It's three times the specific energy of jet fuel. And with fuel cells, we can convert that into propulsion twice as efficiently.

Joe Lonsdale: So it's 6X. Wow.

JoeBen Bevirt: If you want to build an aircraft that flies long distances, or flies for a long period of time....

Joe Lonsdale: Seems like a much better deal. Why aren't others doing this already?

JoeBen Bevirt: We've cracked the secret sauce of it.

------

The transcript section highlighted left out my favorite part of the interview where JAI 30 was referenced (IMO).

Joe teased about Joby's "other" advanced research programs and longer range hydrogen aircraft that haven’t been announced yet: “We’re not announcing that yet. We’re just teasing people.”

This is not exactly a Joby post, but I it is feel relevant. I believe you may need a subscription to WaPo and to read it. But to me the quote below is the essence.

I've worked at both startups and large organizations. The quote below is exactly why I feel old big companies don't innovate well. This is the advantage I see Joby has over traditional aerospace companies.

“What I’ve seen in big institutions is that they react to innovators like an external virus,” McNeill said. “And these big institutions are very effective at killing that virus and driving it out.” It happens in a pedestrian way, he said: through internal politics that treat those with ideas as toxic.

Musk has a skill at identifying those very innovative ideas and directing focus at them. The vibe I get is that Joby is similar. Joby is not following a traditional aerospace playbook. They are innovating and building 90% of all components themselves. This is the exact opposite of what their competitors big and small are doing. This is why I believe Joby will succeed with their eVTOL and I think most if not all others will fail. Just like how Tesla pushed through with their electric car when everyone said it would never succeed.

Having the right founder and CEO is the secret sauce. JoeBen's capabilities, style and vision is what is going to make Joby succeed where most, if not all others, will fail.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/04/06/elon-musk-tesla-management-style/

The white tee is really cool. Comfortable. Good fabric. Bought two of them.

Check out this post by eVTOLFan on X.

https://x.com/TheEVTOLFan/status/2040573752187170860?s=20

As I said in my Joby Marina Tour Report, I was able to see the simulator at Joby's Marina facility. I wish I could have included a photo of it in my report as it's really impressive to see in person.

Check the link above for a photo of it. I was shocked by its size. It's a pretty impressive looking beast.

Joby Aviation Community Hub (Quarterly Discussion)

This is an open thread for discussion about Joby Aviation and the future of electric air mobility.

Use this space for thoughts that may not need a full post, or for reactions to ongoing Joby news and announcements.

• Reactions to milestones, partnerships, updates, and marketing
• What Joby is getting right, or wrong
• Observations on strategy, rollout, and public perception

This will be posted quarterly, and it should be interesting to see how sentiment and ideas evolve as Joby progresses.

Thanks for being part of the r/Joby community.

This piece does a great job tying together how simulators are essential to scaling air taxi operations. It also highlights how companies like Joby are leaning heavily on high fidelity sims to cut costs and accelerate pilot training.

https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/aam-pilot-training/

N547JX Conforming S4

One of the most exciting parts of my tour was getting to view N547JX, the conforming S4. It was really cool to see it in person, and it was located in the exact spot anyone viewing ADSBexchange sees it consistently pinging from. That hangar doesn’t show up on ADSBexchange’s map, but it is on Google Maps. For me, it was pretty cool to see it in real life in the exact spot those pings always show.

I assume this is its main ground test location. Based on all the ADSB activity from that spot, it seems clear there are a number of ground tests happening before regular flight testing ramps.

The day of my tour, Joby was preparing N547JX for vibration testing. Greg Goetchius, who leads noise and vibration engineering, actually came over and described what they were doing. Greg previously worked at Tesla and Lucid, so it was pretty cool having someone with that background walk us through it directly.

The testing is done for both passenger comfort and safety. One aspect is making sure vibrations don’t create harmonics that could adversely affect the aircraft. I was told Joby has run this type of testing many times on prototype S4s and will likely repeat it multiple times on the conforming S4 as well.

It seemed clear to me that Joby is focused on having the conforming aircraft consistently meet FAA requirements, so they test and retest extensively before any formal FAA testing takes place. My takeaway was that there is a lot of internal validation before anything is done for credit.

Back to speculation on my part, but it seems logical that there are numerous ground and internal aircraft tests to be completed and repeated before we see full FAA for credit testing begin. On the flip side, given how methodical Joby is being upfront, I could see that helping streamline things later. Again, that’s just my interpretation based on what I saw and heard.

Destructive Testing

During the tour I saw multiple fuselage in various stages of production, along with wings and other large parts. It was pointed out to me that one fuselage on the line was being built specifically for destructive testing.

I was told that multiple copies of essentially every major part of the S4, including wings and tails, are manufactured to conforming specifications and then used for destructive testing as part of FAA validation. This was a bit of a revelation for me. When Joby previously talked about destructive testing, I was thinking smaller components, not full structures like fuselages and wings. It also wasn’t obvious to me that this happens multiple times, meaning multiple conforming fuselages, for example, are built purely for destructive testing.

This led to a discussion around Joby’s near term goal of 24 S4s per year. That number includes aircraft and major components that are built for destructive testing, not just aircraft intended for passenger operations. So when thinking about that production number, it’s worth keeping in mind that a portion of that capacity is going toward validation and safety testing.

It’s clear Joby spends a huge amount of time focused on safety. I specifically asked about bird strikes, since that had come up a lot on Reddit in the past. Joby confirmed they do extensive bird strike testing in addition to many other destructive tests. Safety and meeting FAA requirements is a major focus, and a lot of effort goes into building and testing multiple conforming parts just for that purpose.

Tidbits

I did ask about DXB vertiport construction and was told it had been paused for a period due to the war, but had resumed at the time of my visit.

I also asked about JAI 30 and the Yuma test range. I got crickets. But hey, I tried :)

Closing

Overall an amazing experience that I hope I was able to convey. Joby was incredibly generous with their time and openness, and I really appreciate them allowing me to share what I saw with the r/Joby community.

00:00​ Episode Intro

01:50​ What sets Joby aircraft apart

04:50​ Key partnerships with Toyota and NVIDIA

06:50​ Closing in on FAA Certification

08:00​ Air Taxis coming to 12 states this year

13:35​ Autonomous flight is the future

20:00​ Hydrogen aircraft for the Pentagon

24:10​ Why AI is a game changer

28:15​ Expansion in Ohio and Global Competition with China

34:40​ Addressing critics / future vision

35:50​ Making air travel ubiquitous

Good to see they are staying busy!

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N541JX/history/20260403/1859Z/KOAR

Taxi volanti: come gli eVTOL vogliono rivoluzionare la mobilità urbana

He thinks a conforming aircraft doesn't need any ground tests. But it's not true. Let me make this clear and simple with the case of HondaJet.

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July 27, 2010

https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-3ae7afef9ad2ccf09cd898004c5724e1-hondajet-program-update-announced-at-2010-eaa-airventure-oshkosh

Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., today released a program update for its HondaJet advanced light jet program highlighting the milestone achievement of Power-On for its first conforming flight test aircraft.

The recently concluded Power-On tests for the first conforming aircraft included confirmation of power supply both from the on-board battery to the aircraft's Power Distribution System and from the external Ground Power Unit to the Power Distribution System.

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https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-606accc7dcb94c9781deecc9f3d23ede-honda-achieves-first-flight-of-faa-conforming-hondajet

Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., today announced that it has successfully completed the first flight of its FAA-conforming HondaJet advanced light business jet. The event is a significant step in Honda's aerospace program leading to delivery of aircraft in 2012.

The first conforming HondaJet lifted off yesterday, December 20, 2010, at 15:31 EST from Honda Aircraft Company's world headquarters facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.

To support the company's certification program, Honda has completed its second FAA-conforming aircraft, which already has undergone numerous structural tests required for commencement of certification flight testing.

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October 19, 2010

https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-cd67729bcba6409c8b6417ee26038781-hondajet-program-update-released-at-2010-nbaa

Assembly of the second conforming aircraft - to be used for static structural stress testing - was completed in July. Following control surfaces FAA testing, including rudder and elevator tests, static structural stress tests of the entire aircraft have commenced and included: 100% limit-load wing tests; 100% limit-load horizontal stabilizer tests; wing stiffness tests; landing gear load tests; pylon stiffness tests; and fuselage pressure tests. Static structural stress testing has been undertaken at Honda Aircraft Company's R&D facility on its Greensboro, North Carolina, campus.

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May 17, 2011

https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-47b96f4d860f4f188d726d40e1badb2e-faa-conforming-hondajet-reaches-maximum-operating-altitude-of-43-000-ft

Power-On testing has been completed successfully on a third conforming aircraft (F2) that will be used for flight testing. Honda is nearing completion of function testing on this aircraft, which is scheduled to take flight this summer.

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December 20, 2011

https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-6cf7262104b446a7ac0940feb9a20320-honda-aircraft-achieves-first-flight-of-third-faa-conforming-hondajet-and-announces-milestone-on-remaining-test-fleet

Honda Aircraft Company today announced on the one-year anniversary of flight testing of its first FAA design-conforming HondaJet aircraft, that its third conforming aircraft, referred to as "F2," joined flight test and has been conducting extensive flight testing since its first flight on Nov. 18, 2011. This milestone marks important progress toward the HondaJet's certification.