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Joby S4
Photo: Harlan Huntington · Public domain (opens commons.wikimedia.org)

Joby S4

by Joby AviationUS

PilotStage 3 of 5

In the final stage of FAA approval; FAA test flights and first passenger flights targeted for 2026.

Updated 5 Aug 2026Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · FAA pilots begin official test flights
  1. First full-size prototype flies (remotely piloted)2017Complete.
  2. FAA agrees the rules it will certify against2020Complete.
  3. Delivers first air taxi to the US Air ForceSep 2023Complete.
  4. First flights in DubaiJun 2025Complete.
  5. Enters final stage of FAA approvalApr 2026Complete.
  6. FAA pilots begin official test flightsTarget 2026Current milestone.
  7. FAA type certificate (safety approval)Not yet reached.
  8. Commercial passenger service in DubaiTarget 2026+12 mooriginally 2025Not yet reached.

Most important updates

  • 5 Aug 2026
  • 11 Mar 2026
  • 6 Nov 2025
  • 11 Jul 2024
  • Feb 2024

Upcoming

  1. 2026FAA pilots begin official test flights (next)
  2. 2026Commercial passenger service in Dubai+12 mooriginally 2025
  3. 2027Planned expansion of Joby air-taxi service to Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Current obstacles

  • Battery safety and reservesBatteries must not catch fire and must keep a safety reserve after a long trip, which cuts how much it can carry.
  • Production at scaleMaking hundreds of aircraft a year to aerospace standards is new; Toyota is helping with this.

Physics limits

  • Batteries hold about 40 times less energy per kilo than jet fuelThe best lithium-ion cells store roughly 0.25–0.3 kWh per kg; kerosene holds about 12 kWh per kg. Even after motors' higher efficiency, that caps range at tens of miles, and a battery weighs the same when empty.
  • Hovering on small rotors costs several times the power of cruiseA rotor lifts by pushing air down; the power needed rises as disc area shrinks. Small propellers must move air fast, so take-off and landing burn a big share of each trip's energy and stress the battery hardest.
  • Reserve rules eat much of a small batteryAircraft must land with spare energy for diversions. On an electric plane that reserve is a fixed slice of a small battery, and cells deliver less power when nearly empty and cold, exactly when landing needs the most.

How it works

3 parts
Joby's S4 lifting off at NASA Armstrong: all six propellers point up to hover, then tilt forward so the wing carries it
Joby's S4 lifting off at NASA Armstrong: all six propellers point up to hover, then tilt forward so the wing carries itPhoto: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center / NASA/Genaro Vavuris · Public domain (opens commons.wikimedia.org)
Hover

Lifting straight up

All six propellers point up; the computer changes each one's speed to keep it level, like a big drone.

Transition

Tilting to fly on the wing

The propellers tilt forward as it speeds up until the wing holds it up. This handover is the trickiest, most safety-critical part.

Cruise

Flying like a plane

In cruise it flies like a small plane and uses far less power than when hovering.

Spec sheet

SpecJoby S4
OccupantsPilot + 4 passengersR (reported)
Propellers6 tiltingR (reported)
Top speed~200 mph (320 km/h)R (reported)
Design range~100 miles (160 km)R (reported)
Battery packs4R (reported)
Flyover noise (500 m)~45 dBAR (reported)

R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Air taxis peers
SpecJoby S4Archer Aviation Midnight
OccupantsPilot + 4 passengersR (reported)Pilot + 4 passengersR (reported)
Propellers6 tiltingR (reported)12 (6 tilt, 6 lift-only)R (reported)
Battery packs4R (reported)6R (reported)

R reported by the company

Papers & demos

1 item
  1. Jul 2021demo
    154.6-mile flight on a single charge (opens jobyaviation.com)Showed a full-size air taxi prototype can fly regional distances, far beyond city trips.

Update log

8 updates

Wed 5 Aug

  • Minor: PressRegulatory

Wed 11 Mar

  • Major: BlogTest

Thu 6 Nov 2025

  • Major: BlogRegulatory

Jun 2025

  • Minor: BlogTest

Thu 11 Jul 2024

  • Major: BlogTest

Feb 2024

  • Major: PressCommercial

Sun 12 Nov 2023

  • Minor: BlogTest

Jul 2021

  • Minor: BlogTest

About Joby Aviation

The team behind Joby S4

Joby Aviation

S4 air taxi, Dubai launch, Blade

Joby builds the S4, a five-seat electric air taxi with six tilting propellers, and plans to run the taxi service itself. It is the furthest along the FAA's safety approval among US makers and is preparing launches in Dubai and the US.

  • In the final stage of FAA safety approval in 2026; FAA-counted test flights are next.
  • Building a Dubai network with an exclusive six-year deal and a landing pad at Dubai airport.
  • Toyota is its largest outside investor and helps build it; Joby bought Blade's passenger business in 2025.

jobyaviation.com (opens jobyaviation.com)Company profile →

Founded
200917 yrs
Headquarters
United States
Status
Public
Listed
JOBY (opens google.com)NYSE
Valuation
public
Raised
$1.1B2 rounds
Last round
Strategic (Toyota) · $500MOct 2024
Works in
AviationAir taxis
Coverage
1 program · 10 updateslatest 5 Aug 2026checked 25 Sep
Lead investors
Toyota
Customers
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (opens rta.ae)
Partners
Uber (opens uber.com)Delta Air Lines (opens delta.com)Blade (opens jobyaviation.com)
Investors
Toyota (opens global.toyota)
People
JoeBen Bevirt (opens en.wikipedia.org)Founder and CEOPaul Sciarra (opens en.wikipedia.org)Executive Chairman
Primer