Santa Cruz, California

Joby joins the Microsoft Flight Sim fleet

Pilots around the world can now take the controls of the Joby aircraft in the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

The Joby electric air taxi is available in the latest edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator, released this week, offering all generations of aviation enthusiasts an opportunity to experience the future of flight from the pilot’s seat.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to share our revolutionary aircraft with aviation enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds, giving everyone an opportunity to experience the intuitive and effortless controls we have designed. We can’t wait to see where people will choose to take off and land with our aircraft, using its flexibility to explore cities and communities in a new way.”

The Joby aircraft is available in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, offering everyone the chance to pilot an electric air taxi.

The Joby aircraft is available in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, offering everyone the chance to pilot an electric air taxi | Image: Microsoft

The Joby aircraft uses a novel approach to flight controls to enable pilots to intuitively transition from vertical take-off to wingborne flight. Known as “unified flight controls,” the aircraft is piloted similar to vertical-lift military aircraft such as the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

Players will be able to fly the Joby aircraft between helipads and airports worldwide in the game, including potential routes for Joby’s air taxi service such as from JFK Airport to Downtown Manhattan, where Joby completed real-life piloted exhibition flights last year. Joby recently brought its aircraft to Grand Central Terminal in New York City and The Grove in Los Angeles, sharing the Company’s vision for the future of flight with local communities.

The inclusion of the Joby aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the result of years of collaboration between Joby and the Microsoft Flight Simulator team to capture the interior and exterior dimensions as well as the flight physics and controls of the aircraft in all stages of flight.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

Joby recently outlined its intended pilot training curriculum, which will see commercial fixed-wing pilots complete a series of simulator and real-life training exercises in order to earn a powered-lift type rating. Joby is working with CAE, a global leader in pilot training and simulation, to develop Level 7 and Level C flight simulation training devices.