Joby Aviation is bringing its electric air taxi experience directly to potential customers through a mobile flight simulator, marking a shift toward community engagement ahead of its planned 2027 commercial launch. The Santa Cruz-based company parked a blue-branded trailer at San Jose Mineta International Airport, offering residents a chance to pilot a realistic flight simulation of its four-passenger aircraft. The simulator features a 120-degree screen and full cockpit controls, allowing visitors to experience vertical takeoff, navigation, and landing without leaving the ground.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan tested the simulator on August 18, 2026, successfully completing a 10-minute flight that included takeoff, turns around the airport area, and a smooth landing. "I just made it through without a crash landing, so I'm pretty proud of myself," Mahan said after the experience, joking that he might pursue a career with Joby if politics didn't work out.

Why Is Joby Bringing Its Simulator to Airports?

The mobile simulator represents a deliberate strategy by Joby to build familiarity and support in communities where the company plans to operate. San Jose Mineta is the first airport in the United States to host the simulator, and Joby intends to expand this roadshow to other locations where air taxi service will eventually launch.

"We think it's really important to be able to show this, that people experience it and to kind of get a taste of what's coming soon," said Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer at Joby Aviation.

Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer at Joby Aviation

The simulator was available at San Jose Mineta through Friday, August 22, 2026, with free reservations available through an online scheduling system. This hands-on approach allows Joby to demonstrate the accessibility and safety of its technology to the general public, not just aviation professionals or investors.

How to Experience Joby's Air Taxi Technology Today

• Reserve a Simulator Session: Members of the public can sign up for a flight simulator experience at San Jose Mineta International Airport through the company's online calendar system, with sessions lasting approximately 10 minutes.
• Understand the Aircraft Design: Joby's electric air taxi seats four passengers plus one pilot, offering a compact alternative to traditional helicopters or ground transportation for short-distance urban travel.
• Learn About the Timeline: Joby expects to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval and begin offering real commercial flights by 2027, making the simulator a preview of service launching within the next year.

San Jose Mayor Mahan highlighted the potential of air taxi technology to address one of Silicon Valley's most pressing challenges: traffic congestion. "We can't just have everybody in a car with our current infrastructure, and it's expensive to build new infrastructure," Mahan said. "So having this kind of technology, this innovation, happening right here in our backyard, creating the jobs of the future and maybe helping to solve one of the area's biggest challenges, which is congestion, is pretty exciting".

The simulator deployment reflects Joby's broader strategy to normalize electric air taxi travel before commercial operations begin. By allowing mayors, community leaders, and ordinary residents to experience the technology firsthand, Joby aims to reduce skepticism and build grassroots support for air taxi infrastructure development in target cities. The company's focus on community engagement suggests that regulatory approval alone will not be sufficient for successful market entry; public acceptance and local government buy-in will be equally critical as Joby moves toward its 2027 launch target.