Joby Aviation · Drones · 2023
A hydrogen-electric version of Joby's S4 tilt-rotor air taxi, built to show that liquid hydrogen could unlock emissions-free regional flying without a runway. Joby converted a retired pre-production battery-electric S4 (prototype N542BJ) in a matter of weeks - keeping ~90% of the aircraft the same - by adding a Joby-built 40 kg liquid-hydrogen tank (cryogenic, ~22 K, vacuum-jacketed) and an H2FLY H2F-175 fuel-cell system that produces electricity, water and heat; the fuel cell powers the six tilting rotors while a small supplemental battery adds takeoff/landing power and is recharged in cruise. On 24 June 2024 it flew a record 523 miles (842 km) non-stop in 4h47m - believed to be the first forward flight of a liquid-hydrogen-powered VTOL - landing with 10% fuel remaining, and later reached 561 miles, with water vapor as the only emission. Internally nicknamed 'SHy4' (S4 + H2FLY's HY4), it reuses Joby's ElevateOS software, landing pads and operations model, and the program is backed by the USAF's Agility Prime.
Price on application
View full interactive profile, comparisons & videos → Check price on Amazon →| Category | Drones |
| Sub-type | Hydrogen-Electric eVTOL (technology demonstrator) |
| Status | Prototype |
| Year | 2023 |
| Origin | USA |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 3050 × 11582 × 6350 mm |
| Weight | 2177 kg |
| Payload | 454 kg |
| Max speed | 89 m/s |
| Max range | 842 km |
| Use cases | Emissions-free regional air mobility, Long-range eVTOL |
| Made in | USA |