Pilots Take to the Skies in eVTOL Test Flights: Milestone Achieved

Pilots Take to the Skies in eVTOL Test Flights: Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation persist in their endeavor to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, to market. Joby announced on Wednesday that piloted testing of the pre-production prototype aircraft of the company has commenced in Marina, California. In the past, Joby’s flight testing was primarily restricted to maneuvers that were executed remotely from a ground control station.

A succession of tests were completed by four pilots in order to collect data regarding the aircraft’s handling and pilot controls. The assessments comprised practical exercises and manoeuvrings that pilots would encounter during actual flight operations, including vertical takeoffs, forward flight transitions, deceleration, and landing. James Denham, the chief test pilot, stated, “Having executed over 400 vertical take-offs and landings from the ground, it is an honor to be seated in the cockpit of our aircraft and personally witness the intuitiveness and simplicity of the design that the Joby team has created.”

Pilots Take to the Skies in eVTOL Test Flights

Archer Aviation was granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration in August for its Midnight aircraft. This authorization empowers the organization to commence flight test operations. The FAA envisions connecting airports with metropolitan areas, rural communities, and downtowns to usher in a new era of urban air mobility.

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Both eVTOL developers have stated that they anticipate commercial flight by 2025. United Airlines and Archer Aviation have both declared their intentions to operate air transportation services in the New York City and Chicago metropolitan areas. Service is provided on these routes between Downtown Manhattan Heliport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, as well as between O’Hare International Airport and a downtown Chicago vertiport. Joby and Delta Air Lines both stated their intention to launch eVTOL service in New York and Los Angeles last year, but have since refrained from providing further information.

Joby and Archer are making preparations to produce their aircraft domestically in the United States. Stellantis, a global manufacturer, is collaborating with Archer to construct an air taxi manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia. In contrast, Joby is slated to establish a $500 million plant in Dayton, Ohio.

Also of interest to the U.S. Air Force are prospective military applications for these new aircraft. Flight trials of Joby eVTOL aircraft have commenced at Edwards Air Force Base in California, which is renowned for housing the space shuttles as a fallback landing site. A Joby press release states that NASA will provide pilots, researchers, and equipment in support of the experiments.

The United States Air Force, which awarded $1 million for a mobile flight simulator as part of $142 million in contracts, is another client of Archer Aviation. With an eye toward potential military applications, the simulator will be utilized to educate pilots, evaluate flight controls, and assist the Air Force in comprehending the capabilities of Archer’s civilian eVTOL aircraft. Archer stated in a press release, “These aircraft hold the potential to improve operational effectiveness, agility, and rapid response across a broad spectrum of mission profiles, including personnel transport, logistics support, rescue operations, and more.”