09/23/2026
Joby Aviation has completed what it says is the first fully autonomous cross-country airplane flight in the United States.
A retrofitted Cessna Caravan departed Concord, California, on September 7 and completed its 3,199-mile journey on September 14.
The aircraft autonomously controlled every stage of the trip, including taxiing, takeoffs, navigation, and landings.
A human safety pilot remained onboard throughout the flight but never needed to take control.
The autonomous system navigated busy airspace around Phoenix, Arizona, without human assistance.
It also altered its route in real time to avoid thunderstorms and severe weather.
The aircraft made demonstration stops in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
After completing the journey, it flew near the First Flight Monument at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, marking the Wright brothers’ historic 1903 flight.
Joby says autonomous aircraft could eventually serve remote communities, disaster response, cargo delivery, and military operations.
The aircraft is now scheduled to autonomously return to California with additional stops across several states.