2 new air taxis coming to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
Video above: The first “air taxi” test takes place at Tampa International Airport in November 2023.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two new electric air taxis are coming to MacDill Air Force Base.
Joby Aviation, Inc., the company developing air taxis, announced that two of their aircraft are being delivered to Tampa. Personnel will test and train with the air taxis at the base and in the surrounding area.
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Joby said the move is part of their AFWERX Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force and that they will be directly working with DoD operational units to carry out “representative logistic missions and test use cases in personnel transport, causality evacuation, and support of security forces.”
Joby said the aircraft will be able to travel at speeds of 200mph and is designed to carry one pilot and four passengers.
In September 2023, the company delivered its first aircraft to a base in California, with a second on its way later this year. They expect more operational testing to be done at MacDill AFB in the future.
The U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and ground crews, among others, have made several trips for flight training and mission analysis regarding the logistics and personnel transport applications of air taxis.
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“We’re looking forward to working with units at MacDill Air Force Base as we further explore the potential use cases for our aircraft, demonstrating its capabilities in realistic settings,” JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby said. “This work will provide Joby with valuable early operational experience, while providing the USAF with firsthand understanding of the performance of our aircraft and its potential applications.”
According to Joby, their goal is to develop an all-electric air taxi to operate as a fast, quiet, and convenient service for cities.
MacDill is expected to receive the two air taxes sometime in 2025.
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