Joby Aviation says its ‘quiet’ aircraft travels to Manhattan from JFK in 10 minutes at a ‘premium car service’ price
I
t’s neither a bird nor a plane, and it is vehemently not a helicopter, but instead this week some New Yorkers witnessed an “electric vertical takeoff and landing” aircraft buzzing around the city, which developers say could revolutionize travel in New York.
Joby Aviation’s fully electric aircraft conducted multiple flights from JFK airport in Queens to Manhattan in recent days, which would have turned heads to anyone looking up. It’s a futuristic looking design, somewhere between helicopter and drone, and is capable of speeds up to 200mph.
That gets it from JFK to midtown Manhattan in about 10 minutes, compared with more than an hour in a car, and about the same on public transport. Crucially, Joby claims it is quieter than a helicopter, something which could satisfy New York’s anti-helicopter lobby and also preserve passengers’ ears.
