Abstract:
Joby Aviation is developing an all-electric air taxi for commercial passenger service. The aircraft takes off and lands vertically using six tilting propellers. Classified as powered lift aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration, it has many similarities with, and important differences from, traditional helicopters. Joby Aviation partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration to measure the outwash of the Joby Aviation S4 pre-production prototype aircraft and a Robinson R44 light helicopter. The measured data shows that the Joby S4 has similar outwash magnitudes to the R44 despite being flown at approximately twice the weight. It also shows that the caution and hazard zones for outwash based on the 95% maximum velocity and PAXman analysis are very close to the aircraft and well within the established safety areas. The data shows that the outwash of the Joby S4 aircraft does not present an increased risk over traditional light helicopters.