Joby Aviation Marks a Milestone with First Flight of Hybrid VTOL Aircraft
Joby Aviation has successfully completed the first flight of its hybrid-powered, optionally piloted variant of the S4 eVTOL aircraft. This significant achievement comes just three months after the concept was announced. The flight took place at Joby’s facility in Marina, California, under a partnership with defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
The autonomous aircraft incorporates Joby’s SuperPilot technology, acquired from Xwing in 2024. It features a hybrid turbine powertrain designed to provide superior range and payload capabilities for military missions. The demonstrator is primarily aimed at defense applications, offering enhanced logistics capabilities for operations such as cargo delivery and surveillance.
According to Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt, the rapid development demonstrates the company’s “unprecedented pace” in moving from concept to demonstration. Flight testing will continue ahead of planned government exercises in 2026. The aircraft could potentially serve as a “loyal wingman” for crewed operations under the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft framework.