The sky is quite literally the limit for the future of transportation in NYC. As drones continue to help perform certain city services and super sonic jets are expected to return, ground breaking advancements continue to be made with aerospace developments.
You may have heard of Uber Copter or Blade helicopters, but there’s a new aviation leader in the ring. Joby, a venture-backed aviation company, is on a mission to bring flying taxis to the market by 2025. The company has already partnered with impressive businesses such as NASA, Toyota and Uber.
Its aircraft, fit for one pilot and four passengers, is powered by six electric motors with a vertical takeoff and landing. Booking a ride would be as simple as a touch on an app. “Flying with [them] might feel more like getting into an SUV than boarding a plane,” shared Joby’s website.
Passengers in NYC could travel from the Downtown Heliport to JFK Airport via Joby in just seven minutes (a distance that would take a car 49 minutes to complete).
An expert team of engineers ensures that Joby aircrafts are quiet enough to blend in with everyday noise if they were to land in your neighborhood. Take a listen here.
The prototype aircraft has already flown more than 30,000 miles. According to a recent press release, it’s expected to become the first ever eVTOL aircraft to reach customers.
The company just selected Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation, as home for their first scaled manufacturing facility. Joby intends to deliver up to 500 aircrafts per year on the 140-acre site.
By 2025, Joby hopes to become part of an aerial ridesharing network in cities all across the world. To learn more about the company, you can explore their website here.