Joby Aviation has completed the first flight of its new turbine electric autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, marking a major milestone for next generation hybrid VTOL technology. As reported by Interesting Engineering, the aircraft flew on November 7 at Joby’s test facility in Marina, California.
The design builds on Joby’s electric air taxi architecture but adds a hybrid turbine powertrain and the company’s SuperPilot autonomous flight system. The new setup is meant to carry heavier payloads and fly much farther than Joby’s battery powered aircraft, opening the door to missions that require significantly more range.
Joby says the demonstrator is intended for both commercial and defense applications. Potential uses include expanded air taxi routes, long range logistics, surveillance and fully autonomous operations. The flight took place only three months after the company introduced the hybrid concept and announced a major partnership with defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
L3Harris will integrate mission systems onto the aircraft, including sensors, communications hardware and other equipment for tasks such as contested logistics, unmanned escort flights, loyal wingman support and low altitude operations. The US government has already requested more than nine billion dollars in its 2026 budget to accelerate development of autonomous and hybrid aircraft, reflecting strong demand for runway independent platforms.
Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the goal is to move new technology into military hands faster and at lower cost. He noted that Joby’s vertically integrated approach helps the company progress swiftly from concept to demonstration and eventually deployment.
The aircraft will now undergo additional ground and flight testing before beginning operational demonstrations with US government customers in 2026. Bevirt described the effort as a dual use program meant to support both Joby’s commercial fleet and upcoming defense needs.
L3Harris executives said the partnership will help deliver unmanned VTOL aircraft to military operators more quickly. They emphasized that future battlefields will depend on uncrewed systems working alongside manned aircraft.
Joby’s electric platform has already accumulated more than 50,000 miles of test flights and is nearing the end of the FAA certification process. The SuperPilot autonomous system has also logged years of development. Earlier this year, a modified Cessna 208 equipped with the system completed more than 40 hours of autonomous flight during a Defense Department exercise over the Pacific, largely controlled from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam nearly 3,000 miles away.
Joby says its hybrid VTOL demonstrator offers extended range, the ability to operate without runways and full autonomous capability. The company has not yet provided a timeline for a production model, but the successful first flight marks an early step toward fielding hybrid VTOL aircraft for both civilian and military use.
