Two California eVTOL makers, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, publicly demonstrated piloted electric air-taxi aircraft at the California International Airshow in Salinas/Monterey in early October 2025, marking what both companies called the first side-by-side public eVTOL demos in the United States. The 10-minute flights drew a large crowd and offered a real-world preview of how quiet, electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft might operate in urban environments.
Joby’s S4 (six tilt-prop design) performed hovering maneuvers, a 540-degree spin while stationary and short transitions; Archer’s Midnight (12-prop configuration) executed a conventional runway takeoff and flight demonstration. Both companies emphasised noise reduction, safety systems and plans to begin passenger operations after FAA certification and local approvals.
What the demos showed
- Quiet operation: Attendees reported the eVTOLs produced a faint whoosh rather than the roar of helicopters, a central selling point for urban acceptance. Joby executives stressed blade and motor design choices that reduce acoustic signature.
- Operational staging: Joby flew between Marina and Salinas/Monterey as part of demonstrations earlier in August, proving an airport-to-airport profile that included vertical take-off, transition to wingborne flight and vertical landing, an important integration test in FAA-controlled airspace.
- Public engagement: The airshow allowed the public to see eVTOL operations close up and hear manufacturer explanations about range, mission profiles (Joby emphasises 20–30 mile city trips; it has demonstrated longer-range flights in testing) and pilot-in-the-loop handling.
Why these demos matter
- Public acceptance: Noise and perceived safety are key barriers for urban air mobility (UAM). Live demonstrations help build community familiarity and provide data points for local regulators assessing public-space operations.
- Regulatory momentum: The demonstrations come as the FAA and U.S. government accelerate pilot programs and public-private partnerships to test eVTOL corridors and vertiports, steps intended to shorten the path from prototype testing to limited commercial operations. Recent federal pilot programs aim to speed localized deployments ahead of full certification.
- Industry signalling: Joby and Archer are positioning themselves as early entrants for city air taxi services (Joby has stated ambitions for Dubai 2026 and U.S. service after certification; Archer targets Los Angeles Olympics 2028). Public flights at a major U.S. airshow signal progress to investors and municipal partners.
Timeline, recent milestones
- Aug 2025: Joby completes a piloted airport-to-airport flight (Marina → Monterey) in FAA-controlled airspace.
- Early Oct 2025: Joby and Archer perform 10-minute public demonstrations at the California International Airshow (Salinas/Monterey).
- 2025–26: FAA pilot programs and company certification flights continue; companies aim for incremental commercial launches after certification.
Caveats and what remains to be proved
- Certification gap: Demonstrations do not equal FAA type certification or operational approval for commercial passenger service. The companies still face rigorous FAA evaluation on systems, redundancy, and community noise standards.
- Infrastructure and economics: Vertiports, charging infrastructure, air-traffic integration and tariffs remain open questions for scalable UAM business models. Local approvals and community buy-in will determine early corridor viability.
What’s next? Industry outlook
- Short term: Expect more public demonstrations and FAA test integrations with local air-traffic control as companies proceed with certification test points. Municipal pilot projects under federal programs will provide data for noise, safety and slot management.
- Medium term: If certification and local approvals proceed, we will likely see limited commercial operations in targeted corridors (airport shuttles, VIP transports) within 1-3 years in permissive cities. Widespread urban fleets remain a longer-term prospect.
Sources
- Business Insider Africa, Lloyd Lee, Flying taxis take flight in front of a US crowd for the first time…, 5 Oct 2025.
- Joby Aviation press releases (Salinas airshow participation; Marina→Monterey flight).
- AINonline, Archer and Joby Demonstrate eVTOL Flight at Salinas Airshow, 7 Oct 2025.
- Hoodline – local Salinas coverage of the airshow demos.
- Reuters coverage of FAA pilot programs to accelerate eVTOL deployment.
