Columbus, Ohio. Ohio, renowned as the birthplace of aviation thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Wright brothers, is set to become a hub for cutting-edge electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft production. This exciting development comes as the state announces a groundbreaking partnership with Joby Aviation Inc.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “When you’re talking about air taxis, that’s the future. We find this very, very exciting — not only for the direct jobs and indirect jobs it’s going to create, but like Intel, it’s a signal to people that Ohio is looking to the future. This is a big deal for us.”
Around the world, eVTOL aircraft are gaining momentum as a potential solution to urban transportation challenges. These electric planes have the capacity to transport individual passengers or small groups vertically from rooftops and parking garages to their destinations, effectively bypassing congested roads. However, questions remain regarding issues such as noise levels and charging infrastructure.
Joby Aviation’s decision to establish its first scaled manufacturing facility in Ohio, located on a 140-acre site at Dayton International Airport, marks the culmination of two decades of groundwork laid by the state’s leaders. This strategic location is close to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories headquarters.
Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted emphasized the historical significance of this development, stating, “For a hundred years, the Dayton area has been a leader in aviation innovation. But capturing a large-scale manufacturer of aircraft has always eluded the local economy there. With this announcement, that aspiration has been realized.”
Dayton holds a special place in aviation history as the hometown of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who conducted their pioneering experiments in powered flight there. In 1910, they opened the first U.S. airplane factory in the area. Joby Aviation paid tribute to this legacy by making its formal announcement at Orville Wright’s former residence, Hawthorn Hill, and concluding with a ceremonial flypast of a replica of the Wright Model B Flyer.
Joby Aviation’s production aircraft is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, with a maximum range of 100 miles. The company boasts that its aircraft produce minimal noise, barely audible in most urban environments. The plan is to integrate these eVTOLs into aerial ridesharing networks starting in 2025.
This venture has garnered substantial support from industry giants such as Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Intel, and Uber. Joby Aviation, a 14-year-old company that went public in 2021, holds the distinction of being the first eVTOL firm to receive U.S. Air Force airworthiness certification.
The $500 million project is backed by up to $325 million in incentives from the state of Ohio, JobsOhio (the state’s economic development office), and local government. With these resources, Joby intends to establish an Ohio facility capable of producing up to 500 aircraft annually, creating 2,000 jobs. The U.S. Department of Energy has also extended an invitation to Joby to apply for a loan to support the facility’s development as a clean energy project.
Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt cited Ohio’s strong manufacturing capabilities and aviation heritage as key factors in the company’s decision to choose the state for its manufacturing facility. “Ohio is the No. 1 state when it comes to supplying parts for Boeing and Airbus. Ohio is No. 3 in the nation on manufacturing jobs — and that depth of manufacturing prowess, that workforce, is critical to us as we look to build this manufacturing facility,” Bevirt explained.
J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio, noted the enduring commitment of the Dayton area to aviation. He emphasized how this project combines a rich legacy of aviation innovation with manufacturing expertise, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.
Bevirt indicated that operations and hiring would commence immediately from existing buildings near the development site, pending regulatory approvals. The site has the capacity to eventually accommodate up to 2 million square feet of manufacturing space.
Construction of the manufacturing facility is scheduled to begin in 2024, with production slated to commence in 2025. Toyota, a long-term investor in Joby, will continue to collaborate with the company as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi.
This announcement coincides with a bipartisan effort by Ohio’s congressional representatives to attract the U.S. Air Force’s new U.S. Space Command headquarters or Space Force units to the state. Ohio’s aerospace legacy, marked by the achievements of the Wright brothers, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong, underscores the state’s suitability for such endeavors.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
