Straight Line of the Day: Before Taking an Electric Flying Taxi, …

Hundreds of Flying Taxis To Be Built in Ohio, Governor Announces

ABC via MSN | 9/19/23

Society may be getting one step closer to the flying commuter vehicles made famous in the animated series “The Jetsons,” as Ohio just announced that hundreds of flying taxis will be built at a facility in the state.

The company Joby Aviation Inc. was selected to build an electric air taxi manufacturing site at Dayton International Airport, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Ohio Department of Development director Lydia Mihalik, JobsOhio president & CEO J.P. Nauseef announced on Monday.

It takes three politicians to announce things like this.

Officials said the site facility “will build, test and fly all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis that will predominantly be used for commercial passenger operations.”

The electric air taxi will be intended to carry a pilot and four passengers, and reach speeds of up to 200 mph over a range of 100 miles, officials said.

Joby plans to invest at least $477.5 million and manufacture up to 500 vehicles a year, according to officials. The manufacturing is set to open in 2025, with construction scheduled to begin next year.

The Federal Aviation Administration granted Joby Aviation a Special Airworthiness Certificate in June, allowing the company to begin test flighting the prototype of its eVTOL aircraft.

Last year, Delta Air Lines announced a partnership with Joby for a “first-of-its-kind arrangement” to provide customers in New York and Los Angeles a “home-to-airport transportation service” using an eVTOL aircraft.

Toyota worked with Joby designing and launching the company’s pilot production line in California. The company will advise Joby as it begins to manufacture the air tax in Ohio, Joby announced.

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