We all have seen taxis on the road, but how would it feel if a taxi flew in the sky and took you to your office or airport? Till a few years ago, this seemed possible only in imagination, but now the world of technology is moving towards making it a reality. American company Joby Aviation has started test flights of its first production electric air taxi. If everything goes according to plan, then in the future it may be possible for common people to fly over cities.
Testing of first production air taxi begins
Joby Aviation has announced that it has begun testing its first production air taxi. This step is considered important for the company, because it can pave the way for starting passenger service. The company says that if all the tests are successful, then in the future people can be seen traveling in electric air taxis over the cities.
Initial flight taking place in California
According to the company, initial test flights are currently underway at its plant in Marina, California. Here the company’s pilots are testing the aircraft by flying it in different conditions. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that the air taxi is completely safe and technically reliable. It will then be sent to the US aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for certification.
a project that has been going on for several years
Joby Aviation has been working on this project for many years. The company has already made significant progress in working with regulatory agencies to obtain approval for the aircraft design, components and production plans. The company’s development models have so far flown more than 50,000 miles, which shows that the system has been thoroughly tested at the technical level.
What is Joby’s air taxi design?
Joby’s air taxi design is quite unique. It has been designed by combining the features of both helicopter and airplane. It has a total of six rotors, which allow it to take off and land directly. After takeoff, it flies forward like a normal aircraft. This aircraft can seat one pilot and four passengers. The company claims that it is much quieter than a conventional helicopter.
Speed and range are also special
This air taxi is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Its maximum speed is said to be around 200 miles per hour, or approximately 321 kilometers per hour. On a single charge, it can fly about 100 miles, or about 160 kilometers. Many safety systems have also been installed to ensure safe travel inside the cities.
Passenger service may start soon
The company is planning to launch its first passenger air taxi service in Dubai by the end of this year. For this, four landing sites have been planned, two of which have already been built. The company is also preparing to launch this service on a limited scale in the United States, as part of a federal program.
Service will start in collaboration with Uber
Recently, ride-hailing app Uber announced that it will launch an air taxi service in collaboration with Joby Aviation. The special thing about this service is that booking can be done through the app, just like booking a regular cab. Users simply enter their destination, and if air travel is possible on that route, an air taxi option will appear in the app.
Complete journey in one booking
This service will cover the entire journey in a single booking. You will first be taken to the take-off point by road. From there, you’ll board an air taxi and take off. After landing, you will be taken by road to your final destination. This means the entire journey can be completed using a single app and a single ticket.