US: Electric air taxi flies over San Francisco in major demonstration

Joby Aviation has launched its nationwide “Electric Skies Tour,” demonstrating its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi with a pilot over the San Francisco Bay Area, including a flight around the Golden Gate Bridge. The aircraft, a pre-production prototype designated N545JX, can carry up to four passengers on short urban trips at cruise speeds of about 200 mph. Its design features fixed wings with six swiveling propellers that enable efficient, quiet, and emissions-free flight. This demonstration coincides with the FAA’s announcement of a pilot program aimed at advancing commercial air taxi services in the US. Joby is among several companies selected for the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), which supports early-stage operations in 10 states, including Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, and Texas. The program is intended to facilitate a phased rollout of air taxi services with high safety margins, similar to how autonomous vehicle companies have introduced their technologies. Joby’s