Joby Aviation to feature in NOVA documentary ‘Great Electric Airplane Race’, airing tonight on PBS
Joby Aviation will be featured in the NOVA documentary ‘Great Electric Airplane Race’ tonight (Wednesday), which is premiering on PBS at 9pm EST.
The one-hour special features footage of Joby’s aircraft in flight and interviews with Joby’s Founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, discussing advancements the company has made in its quest to make aerial ridesharing accessible. It is developing its eVTOL aircraft and intends to launch passenger-carrying services as early as 2024.
The documentary also examines the potential for new emission-free electric planes to revolutionise transportation. As the series has done with emerging industries in the past, NOVA will offer viewers an exciting glimpse at what’s to come, examining aircraft prototypes from companies working to realise this new form of transportation, including Joby’s aircraft which have already flown more than 1,000 test flights.
Miles O’Brien, who is the film’s writer, producer and director, said: “This film looks at the electrification of aviation in a way that no media has touched on before. Electric flight is going to change not just the way we fly, but how we move around in general.
“As a pilot myself, I was truly amazed at how far along the technology is and how close we may be to electric aviation becoming a broader reality.”
The filmmakers behind the documentary were also provided rare behind-the-scenes access to Joby’s test facility in October 2020, where they interviewed executives and saw demonstrations of Joby’s eVTOL aircraft in flight. The aircraft, which has a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, can transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph.
This episode of NOVA will be available for streaming online and on the PBS video app. It premieres as Joby prepares to merge with Reinvent Technology Partners, following its joint SPAC merger in February 2020.
