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Electric air taxis to be showcased at this weekend's Salinas Airshow

Electric Air Taxis to Take Center Stage at Salinas Airshow
SALINAS, Calif. — This weekend’s Salinas Airshow will offer a glimpse into the future of air travel, featuring two local companies at the forefront of electric air taxi development. Among the most anticipated exhibits is Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation, which will present a live demonstration of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, allowing attendees the rare opportunity to step inside the innovative vehicle.
Joby Aviation’s Breakthrough in Urban Air Mobility
Joby Aviation, a prominent player in the emerging air taxi market, is advancing eVTOL technology aimed at commercial passenger service. Didier Papadopoulos, president of Aircraft OEM at Joby, emphasized the significance of showcasing the aircraft locally. “It’s particularly special for us because it’s in our backyard,” he said. The aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers, taking off vertically like a helicopter before transitioning to efficient fixed-wing flight. Papadopoulos described the process: “When we fly, we take off like a helicopter, then go through a transition phase that turns you from a helicopter-like hover into a fixed-wing flight.”
Visitors will have the chance to engage directly with Joby engineers and team members, gaining insight into the technology and its potential to transform urban transportation. Joby is collaborating with Uber to integrate air taxi bookings into the Uber app as well as its own platform. This partnership envisions drastically reducing travel times, such as cutting a typical Manhattan to JFK Airport journey from over an hour by car to just seven minutes by air.
Industry Challenges and Emerging Momentum
Despite the excitement surrounding electric air taxis, the industry continues to confront significant obstacles. Regulatory approval processes, safety standards, and questions about economic feasibility remain critical challenges. Investor sentiment is divided, with some expressing optimism about the sector’s long-term potential, while others adopt a more cautious stance. In response, competitors are intensifying research and development efforts, forging new partnerships, and seeking regulatory advantages to secure their positions.
Recent policy initiatives have injected fresh momentum into the field. The Trump administration’s launch of a pilot program aimed at fast-tracking electric air taxi integration signals a strategic effort to establish U.S. leadership in advanced airspace technology. Concurrently, companies such as Archer Aviation have reached important testing milestones, triggering notable increases in their stock valuations and attracting heightened investor interest.
Salinas Airshow Amidst Changing Aviation Landscape
The Salinas Airshow, a two-day event expected to draw approximately 65,000 attendees, reflects the evolving dynamics of the aviation sector. However, the ongoing government shutdown has led to the cancellation of the Navy’s Blue Angels performance, a significant disappointment for organizers and fans alike. Executive Director Harry Wardwell expressed regret, stating, “It’s a terrible disappointment to our committee, our community, and our airshow fans.”
Despite this setback, the focus on electric air taxis highlights a critical juncture for the industry as companies accelerate efforts to transition this next generation of transportation from concept to operational reality.

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