Joby Aviation S4

6 Electric

The Joby S4 is the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to receive a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA for commercial operations, marking a watershed moment in urban air mobility. Developed by California-based Joby Aviation and powered by six tilting electric propulsion units, the S4 is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers on quiet, zero-emission flights up to 100 miles at speeds approaching 200 mph. Unlike conventional helicopters, the aircraft transitions from vertical flight to forward cruise by tilting its propellers, combining the convenience of rotorcraft operations with the efficiency of fixed-wing flight. Joby has been flight-testing the S4 since 2017 and is working toward FAA Part 135 certification to launch commercial air taxi services in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Dubai. The company has partnered with Delta Air Lines to integrate eVTOL service into airport ground transportation networks, and with the U.S. Air Force under the AFWERX Agility Prime program to explore military applications. The S4's distributed electric propulsion system and composite airframe represent a fundamental departure from century-old aviation architectures, with no combustion engine, no gearbox, and dramatically lower operating costs than traditional rotorcraft. The aircraft's maximum range of approximately 100 statute miles and cruise speed around 200 mph position it for short urban and suburban hops rather than intercity travel. Its relatively low maximum takeoff weight of 4,800 pounds and whisper-quiet operation—Joby claims 65 dBA at 500 feet overhead, quieter than ground traffic—are designed to enable operations from rooftop vertiports and other constrained urban sites without the noise footprint of conventional helicopters. SkyMeter has tracked 11 flights across 2 airframes and 1 operator, with JOBY AERO INC conducting certification and demonstration flights.