The dream of a quiet, electric aircraft that could lift vertically from a city rooftop, transition to wing-borne flight, and deposit passengers across town in minutes seemed like science fiction until Joby Aviation began proving it in metal and carbon fibre. Founded by JoeBen Bevirt in 2009, the California company flew its first full-scale prototype in 2017 and has since logged more than 40,000 miles of testing—what the firm believes is the longest distance flown by any eVTOL programme. In April 2025, Joby’s Chief Test Pilot James “Buddy” Denham became the first pilot to complete a full transition flight (hover to cruise and back) with a pilot aboard, and on 15 August 2025 Joby operated the first piloted eVTOL flight between two public airports, Marina and Monterey, in FAA-controlled airspace. The company has also become the first eVTOL manufacturer to enter the final phase of FAA type certification, known as Type Inspection Authorization (TIA), with four FAA test pilots evaluating its flight deck in simulator trials. Designed to carry four passengers and a pilot at 200 mph with zero emissions and a fraction of the noise of a helicopter, Joby’s aircraft is widely regarded as the most mature electric air taxi yet built, and it is scheduled to begin passenger service in Dubai by 2026.