Joby Aviation Acquires Autonomous Flight Pioneer Xwing | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Joby Aviation Acquires Autonomous Flight Pioneer Xwing

Joby’s eVTOL air taxis could fly without pilots someday

Two of Joby’s prototype electric air taxi aircraft at the company’s flight test and manufacturing facilities in Marina, California. — Two of Joby’s prototype eVTOL aircraft are pictured outside at the company’s flight test and pilot production facilities in Marina, California. © Joby Aviation

By Hanneke Weitering • Science & Technology Editor

June 4, 2024

In a monumental move for the advanced air mobility sector, Joby Aviation has acquired Xwing, a company developing autonomous flight control systems. With its piloted, four-passenger eVTOL air taxi progressing toward certification and service entry in 2025, Joby is already making plans for a subsequent iteration of the aircraft that could transport passengers without pilots on board.

While Joby appears to be at the forefront of the wave of start-ups looking to certify eVTOL air taxis next year, Xwing has also been leading the pack when it comes to certifying autonomous flight technologies. Last year Xwing became the first company to formally begin the FAA certification process for a large uncrewed aerial system (UAS)—a Cessna 208B Caravan utility airplane retrofitted with its “Superpilot” autonomous flight control system.

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