Startup Joby Aviation has unveiled a modified version of its signature vertical takeoff and landing air taxi. The first test flight confirmed the effectiveness of the technology using hydrogen fuel. In the future, such vehicles could serve as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuel-powered airplanes. For this new test flight, Joby used a pre-production prototype of one of its battery-powered aircraft, but instead of the usual fuel tank, it had a liquid hydrogen tank. The modified vehicle completed a flight covering 841 km over Marina, California.
“We are excited to create a technological platform capable of reimagining regional travel using hydrogen-electric aircraft,” stated Joby in a press release.
When the aircraft landed, it still had 10% of its hydrogen fuel remaining. This marks the first recorded instance for both Joby and the entire industry of an eVTOL aircraft successfully completing a test flight using hydrogen.