Joby Aviation Showcases Autonomous Flight Technology in Oklahoma City as Part of National Electric Skies Tour

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s role in the future of advanced aviation was on display today as the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) joined Joby Aviation, federal aviation leaders, and state policymakers for an up-close demonstration of Joby’s autonomous flight technology at AAR Hangar 2 located on the OKC Will Rogers International Airport campus.

The fly-in event served as the Oklahoma stop on Joby Aviation’s 2026 , a coast-to-coast demonstration of the company’s autonomous J208 aircraft. The aircraft, a modified Cessna Caravan equipped with Joby’s autonomous flight technology, is being used to demonstrate autonomous capabilities for commercial, public-service, and defense applications. Joby’s J208 has completed more than 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours and has participated in three U.S. military exercises.

“Oklahoma has built its aviation legacy by being willing to embrace what comes next,” said Grayson Ardies, ODAA executive director. “What we saw today is a real-world example of how rapidly aviation technology is advancing, and why it is important for Oklahoma to be part of that conversation early. By bringing together industry, regulators, policymakers and operators, we can better understand these technologies, help shape how they are safely integrated into our airspace, and position Oklahoma to take advantage of the opportunities they create.”

The event offered attendees a firsthand look at Joby's J208 autonomous aircraft and portable Air Operations Center. Keynote insights from state, federal and industry leaders highlighted the potential applications of autonomous aviation for commercial freight, emergency response and defense logistics. The program concluded with the aircraft taxiing and departing Oklahoma City for the next stop on its national tour.

The Oklahoma City stop follows a major milestone for Joby’s autonomous technology. Earlier this month, the J208 completed a 3,199-mile autonomous transcontinental flight with no control inputs from the onboard safety pilot, including autonomous taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing under remote supervision, according to Joby.

Oklahoma’s Role in a National Advanced Air Mobility Initiative
The Oklahoma demonstration is connected to the state’s participation in the State of Utah’s uFLY: America’s AAM Crossroads to the West coalition under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).

The eIPP was established to accelerate the safe deployment of Advanced Air Mobility technologies in the National Airspace System through partnerships among government entities and private industry.

Oklahoma is part of the five-state uFLY coalition, and Joby’s Electric Skies Tour includes stops in Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Oregon connected to the coalition. Joby states those operations are designed to evaluate autonomous flight across varied terrain, environmental conditions, and regional airspace while generating operational data that can inform future FAA integration efforts.

State lawmakers, including Sen. Paul Rosino and Rep. Emily Gise, joined federal aviation officials, aerospace industry leaders, and other stakeholders for the demonstration.

FAA Research Connects Oklahoma City to the Future of Flight
The Oklahoma City stop also highlighted the significance of the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, located nearby, and the advanced aviation research taking place in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Katrina Avers, director of the FAA’s Safe Operations in Aerospace Research (SOAR) Labs, spoke about the FAA’s work to understand how emerging aircraft technologies, increasingly automated systems, human operators, and the National Airspace System interact.

“What makes Oklahoma City especially important to this conversation is that we are not only seeing emerging aviation technologies demonstrated here, but we are also conducting the research needed to understand how those technologies can operate safely within the National Airspace System,” Avers said. “As aircraft become increasingly automated and new operating concepts emerge, we must understand the entire system — the aircraft, the operator, the technology, the procedures, and the human factors involved. That research helps provide the data needed to support safe, thoughtful integration as aviation continues to evolve.”

Putting Autonomous Aviation Into Real-World Operations
Joby’s J208 operates under a supervised autonomy model in which a ground-based remote pilot serves as pilot in command, supervises the flight, updates flight plans, and manages air traffic control communications. A monitoring pilot is onboard for select operations.

View and download images from Joby's 2026 Electric Skies tour stop in Oklahoma City here.

About the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), which operates the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA), works to position Oklahoma as a global hub for aerospace, defense, and space industry innovation. Through strategic partnerships, infrastructure investment, workforce training, industry advancement, and statewide advocacy, the agency drives one of Oklahoma’s largest and fastest-growing economic sectors, accelerating the state’s role in commercial aviation, national defense, advanced air mobility, and the emerging space economy. ODAA, through the operation of the OSIDA organization, manages the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport, one of the nation’s 14 FAA-licensed spaceports, and leads the development of the emerging Oklahoma space industry.

About Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) is a next-generation aviation company based in California. Its aircraft, propulsion and autonomy technologies span both commercial aviation and defense applications. Joby also operates Blade, a leading urban air mobility business providing passenger transportation services in the United States and Europe. Joby intends to operate its fast, quiet and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.