Aircraft
Archer and Joby Demonstrate eVTOL Flight at Salinas Airshow
Both electric aircraft were extremely quiet as they flew over the Salinas Airport runways
Joby eVTOL aircraft
Joby's S4 eVTOL aircraft didn't land during the airshow but did transition from wingborne to vertical flight. © AIN/Matt Thurber

Two contenders in the challenge to achieve FAA certification for eVTOL aircraft demonstrated their products’ electric flight capabilities at the California International Airshow at Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS) on October 4 and 5. Archer Aviation took to the skies first, with its Midnight flying in wingborne mode followed by Joby Aviation’s S4 flying both wingborne and transitioning to vertical flight. The appearance was Joby’s first public flight demonstration at a U.S. airshow, according to the company.

Archer has a facility at KSNS, and while the company’s pilot took off and landed the Midnight on Runway 26, it was not transitioned to vertical mode during the demonstration, which included passes along the runway, highlighting the lack of noise produced by its electric powerplants.