Joby Aviation completed a fully autonomous flight from California to North Carolina

Jackson Chen· Sep 20, 2026 · 4:32 PM UTC ·1 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 2 views

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TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Joby Aviation has completed the first fully autonomous flight across the United States, traveling 3,199 miles from California to North Carolina. The aircraft, a converted Cessna Caravan, operated without human control inputs for taxiing, takeoff, cruising, and landing. This achievement demonstrates the potential to integrate Joby's autonomy technology into existing aircraft for commercial freight, emergency response, and defense logistics.

Key facts

▪Joby Aviation completed a 3,199-mile autonomous flight from Buchanan Field Airport in California to Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina.
▪The flight was conducted on a converted Cessna Caravan equipped with Joby's autonomous flight system, requiring no onboard pilot control inputs.
▪Remote supervision of the aircraft was managed from Joby's headquarters in California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
▪The company plans to use this technology for applications beyond urban air taxis, including commercial freight, emergency response, and defense logistics.

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Original publisher	Engadget
Canonical URL	https://www.engadget.com/2263406/joby-aviation-completed-a-fully-autonomous-flight-from-california-to-north-carolina/
Publication time	Sun, 20 Sep 2026 16:32:47 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-09-20T16:38:47.261Z
Last seen	2026-09-20T16:38:47.261Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

News EVs and Transportation Joby Aviation completed a fully autonomous flight from California to North Carolina The startup is looking to expand beyond electric air taxi rides in major cities. By Jackson Chen Sept. 20, 2026 12:32 pm EST Joby Aviation Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Joby Aviation has claimed the "first-ever autonomous flight across the United States," after it outfitted an aircraft with its autonomous flight system to complete the journey without human input. The trip started from California's Buchanan Field Airport and finished at Dare County Regional Airport in Outer Banks, NC, totaling 3,199 miles.

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