Joby Aviation’s Autonomous Cessna Caravan Achieves Historic US Cross-Country Flight

In a groundbreaking achievement for autonomous aviation, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) has proudly announced the successful completion of the first-ever fully autonomous flight across the United States. The vehicle for this historic journey was a modified Cessna Caravan, outfitted with Joby’s proprietary autonomy technology — a system originally procured from Xwing in 2024. The aircraft impressively covered 3,199 miles from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, California, to Dare County Regional Airport on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, without requiring any control inputs from the onboard safety pilot.

The aircraft demonstrated its capabilities by autonomously executing every phase of the journey, including taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation, and landings. All this was done under the remote supervision from Joby’s California facility and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina — a distance spanning up to 2,323 miles. The eastbound route included stops in Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; and Shaw AFB, South Carolina. A noteworthy feature was the aircraft’s ability to reroute in real-time around severe thunderstorms without any prior knowledge of the airport.

“This journey across America offers a glimpse into a new era of aviation,” remarked JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. He further emphasized the potential of autonomous technology to connect remote communities, deliver critical supplies, and support military operations.

This significant milestone is a part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies national tour that spans 10 states. It builds on a platform that has already recorded more than 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours. Joby’s achievements have earned it a $17 million U.S. Air Force contract, highlighting the defense potential of this technology.

Source: Joby Aviation Official Press Release