Joby Aviation, a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, today announced it is beginning final assembly of the first aircraft to be produced at the Company’s pilot manufacturing facility in Marina, California.
“With 130,000 square feet of manufacturing space built out, Joby is now starting final assembly of the Company’s first company-conforming aircraft” according to a press release. “Believed to be a first for the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry, the aircraft was manufactured on a production line, according to internally-released engineering drawings, and under the oversight of a complete release of the Company’s Quality Management System (QMS).
“Having built and tested the major aerostructures of the aircraft – the wing, tail, and fuselage – Joby is now beginning the process of fusing the aerostructures together and installing the wiring, electronics, actuation, and propulsion systems. Joby expects the aircraft to begin flight testing within six months.
“Joby’s QMS includes tracking and documentation of every part on the aircraft, configuration management of engineering drawings, environmental conditions during fabrication, and actions taken by manufacturing technicians. The system is reviewed regularly by the FAA as part of the Company’s preparation to receive a production certificate following the type certification of its eVTOL aircraft.
“Concurrently with low-rate aircraft production in Marina, Joby is actively evaluating proposals from a number of states to support the construction of the Company’s Phase 1 production facility.”
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(Image: Joby Aviation)