Under an agreement between the state and Joby Aviation Inc., production of next-generation electric aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing will soon begin in the same Ohio River Valley where the Wright Brothers first experimented with human flight.
“When you talk about air taxis, that’s the future,” Republican Gov. Mike DeWine told The Associated Press, adding: “We find this very exciting, not only because of the direct and indirect jobs it will create, but also because, like Intel, it tells people that Ohio is looking to the future.” This is important to us.”
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- Ohio: Birthplace of Wright Brothers and astronaut legends, hundreds of flying taxis to be produced
- Where will the manufacturing of the flying taxi take place?
- History behind Orville and Wilbur Wright
- When does the flying taxi project start?
- How much money do Ohio and local governments contribute?
- Many manufacturing jobs were lost in the 2000s
Ohio: Birthplace of Wright Brothers and astronaut legends, hundreds of flying taxis to be produced
Credit: AP
Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, are becoming more common around the world; however, concerns remain about noise levels and loading requirements. But developers say airplanes are getting closer to providing a large-scale option for transporting people or small groups from rooftops and parking lots to their destinations while avoiding the congested roads below.
Where will the manufacturing of the flying taxi take place?
Joby’s decision to locate its first scale manufacturing plant near Dayton International Airport on a 140-acre (57-hectare) site builds on two decades of groundwork created by state leaders, according to Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted .
Credit: AP
Notably, the location is near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the headquarters of the United States Air Force Research Laboratories. “For one hundred years, the Dayton area has been a leader in aviation innovation,” Husted said.
Husted added: “However, capturing a large-scale aircraft manufacturer has always eluded the local economy there.” That objective has been met with this news.”
History behind Orville and Wilbur Wright
Orville and Wilbur Wright lived and worked in Dayton. They established the first American airplane factory there in 1910. Joby’s formal announcement on Monday took place at Orville Wright’s home, Hawthorn Hill, and ended with a ceremonial flypast of a replica of the Wright Model B Flyer.
When does the flying taxi project start?
Joby’s production aircraft can carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles (321.87 kilometers) per hour and has a maximum range of 100 miles (160.93 kilometers). According to the company, its modest noise profile is barely noticeable in the context of most cities.
Credit: AP
Starting in 2025, they will be integrated into air ride-sharing networks. Construction of the manufacturing plant is expected to begin in 2024 and production to begin in 2025. Partnerships with Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Intel and Uber help the Santa Cruz, California-based company’s operations. Joby is a 14-year-old startup that went public in 2021 and was the first eVTOL company certified for airworthiness by the United States Air Force.
How much money do Ohio and local governments contribute?
Through JobsOhio’s economic development office, the state of Ohio and local governments are providing up to $325 million in incentives for the $500 million project.
Credit: AP
Joby intends to use the funds to build a factory in Ohio that will produce up to 500 airplanes a year and create 2,000 jobs. The U.S. Department of Energy has asked Joby to apply for a loan to help finance development of the facility as a sustainable energy project. According to JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby, the company chose Ohio after a long and competitive search.
Their financial package was not the most generous, but the opportunity to transfer the operation to the birthplace of aviation, with an experienced crew, sealed the deal, he added.
“Ohio is the number one state in terms of supplying parts to Boeing and Airbus,” Bevirt added.
“Ohio ranks third in the country for manufacturing jobs, and that deep manufacturing experience, that workforce, is critical to us as we look to build this manufacturing facility.” JP Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, said the company’s commitment to aviation has helped the Dayton area weather difficult economic times.
Many manufacturing jobs were lost in the 2000s
Credit: AP
Tens of thousands of auto and auto parts manufacturing jobs were lost in the early 2000s, and the headquarters of ATM maker NCR Corp. moved to an Atlanta suburb in 2009.
“This combines the heritage and legacy of aviation innovation with our manufacturing practicalities,” Nauseef explained.
Bevirt stated that operations and contracting would begin immediately from existing facilities near the development site, subject to customary legal and regulatory hurdles being overcome. The property is large enough to accommodate 2 million square feet (18.58 hectares) of manufacturing space in the future.
Credit: AP
Toyota, a long-term investor, collaborated with Joby in 2019 to build and launch its pilot production line in Marina, California. According to the corporation, the automaker will continue to assist Joby as it prepares for scale production of its commercial flying passenger taxi.
The statement comes as a bipartisan group of Ohio congressional lawmakers has recently ramped up efforts to entice future U.S. Space Command headquarters or Space Force troops to relocate to Ohio. State leaders also mention the aerospace legacy of the Wright brothers and Ohio-born astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn