Originally published at: Joby Conducts Demonstration Flights In New York
Company completed point-to-point flights between JFK and Manhattan heliports.
I would like to see engine failure flight testing done in the same way any other aircraft is tested.
It has 6 motors which are far more reliable than any internal combustion engine any will continue to fly with any single motor failure. Even if you lost all power, it is still capable of gliding as a normal aircraft with an engine out. This has to be much safer than a helicopter along with being much less expensive in terms of fuel and maintenance.
As Joby continue their flight testing, which has shown success, I hope they can continue to prove that they have designed a system capable of enough redundancy to overcome failures of multiple electric motors or propellers. This aircraft is designed to be a VTOL aircraft. Six motors, or ten, doesn’t matter. In an asymmetric thrust scenario during any portion of flight that does not have enough relative wind over the lifting/control surfaces an aircraft will be out of control, and will be about as controllable as a rock. Simple physics. The V-22 has proven that time and again. I’m not arguing the viability of these new designs, but they need to continue to be thoroughly tested to prove their airworthiness, or ability to safely land in a catastrophic engine/motor failure situation, just as any fixed/rotor wing aircraft would be tested, before certification. A fixed wing aircraft can glide to a hopefully safe spot. A helicopter can autorotate given enough altitude. A VTOL aircraft with two or more motors required for flight, such as this, losing enough thrust to produce an asymmetrical situation, will be uncontrollable.
As a New Yawker, I noticed almost a total lack of helicopter flights recently. Upon reading this experimental e-heli test flight from JFK to several heli pads in Manhattan before returning to JFK, I discovered NYC restricting tourist flights by helicopters since 4/25 from noise issues. If e-helis are FAA approved for commercial flights, they may be the next step easily meeting noise abatements from metropolitan areas like NYC with heavy air traffic from JKF, Newark and Laguardia.
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