In a nod to its storied aviation history, the Ohio river valley, which once launched the Wright brothers into the sky, is set to become the epicenter of a new era in flight. Joby Aviation, a pioneering California-based company specializing in electric planes, has forged a historic agreement with the state of Ohio.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine lauded the project’s potential, emphasizing its significance beyond job creation. He stated, “We find this very, very exciting — not only for the direct jobs and indirect jobs it’s going to create, but like Intel, it’s a signal to people that Ohio is looking to the future. This is a big deal for us.”
The groundbreaking electric planes, poised to integrate into aerial ridesharing networks in Ohio by 2025, offer unparalleled features. Operating quietly and swiftly, they boast a maximum range of 100 miles and speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, accommodating a pilot and four passengers. Joby’s strategic alliances with industry titans Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Intel, and Uber solidify the potential of this innovative mode of transportation.
With a colossal budget of $500 million, the project gains further momentum from substantial incentives. Ohio, in collaboration with its economic development arm, JobsOhio, and local authorities, is pledging up to $325 million to fuel the endeavor.
Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted acknowledged the significance of this milestone for the region, remarking, “For a hundred years, the Dayton area has been a leader in aviation innovation. But capturing a large-scale manufacturer of aircraft has always eluded the local economy there. With this announcement, that aspiration has been realized.”
Anticipation builds as Ohio commits itself to another chapter of aviation ingenuity. Construction of the manufacturing facility is slated to commence in 2024, with ties to the region’s illustrious aerospace legacy serving as a cornerstone for success. Joby’s CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, underscored Ohio’s pivotal role, highlighting the state’s integral contribution to the plane’s structural integrity and design assessment, alongside its adept workforce.
Federal backing further bolsters the project’s prospects, with JobsOhio’s President and CEO, J.P. Nauseef, recognizing the community’s unwavering dedication over decades. He expressed, “This marries that heritage and legacy of innovation in aviation with our nuts and bolts of manufacturing. It really marries those two together, and that’s never been married together before — not in this town. For a community the size of Dayton and Springfield, (whose people) take great pride, (and) have had rough, rough decades, it’s a wonderful project.”
This accomplishment stands as the culmination of bipartisan endeavors by Ohio’s congressional representatives, who sought to attract the U.S. Air Force’s new U.S. Space Command headquarters or Space Force units to the state. The synergy between governance and industry is poised to secure Ohio’s enduring prominence in the realm of aviation for generations to come.
Source: AP News
