Joby Aviation Achieves First Successful eVTOL Flight in Korea’s Grand Challenge
Joby Aviation, a pioneer in the electric air taxi industry, has made history by becoming the first company to successfully complete flights as part of Korea’s K-UAM Grand Challenge. This marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of eVTOL technology. Over the course of a week, the company executed a series of flight tests at the Goheung Aviation Test Center in South Jeolla Province, showcasing various flight profiles, including fully wing-borne flight.
The K-UAM Grand Challenge, initiated in 2023 by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, aims to boost the commercialization of air taxis in the Korean market. With this achievement, Korea joins the United States and Japan as the third country where Joby has received airworthiness certification for demonstration flights.
Designed to transport a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, Joby’s electric air taxi promises high-speed mobility with significantly less noise than traditional helicopters and zero operating emissions. The series of flights concluded with a celebratory event hosted by the Korean government. The event showcased the aircraft’s quiet acoustic footprint to over 200 guests, including representatives from Korean and U.S. government agencies.
Source: https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/joby-becomes-first-company-fly-korea-grand-challenge/