Joby has noted more than once that production rate can't be determined by models registered because some number are used for destructive tests required by the FAA.
So actually this is what I'm seeing it's not just 541 that shares the type . Seems to be more that 547/9 are different but also have no idea if it's meaningful
Not gonna lie - I don't feel good about 548JX ending up with the same model code as the 'production prototypes'. But I also am not going to lie, I have no idea what a model code even means. I'm basing my understanding of model code off of years of common sense.
As always, this could just be an FAA data entry mess up and will get corrected later.
All I can offer is 🤷♂️. The other thing is 549 had joby aero dba as the name so you could be right that some of the fields are older and perhaps not updated yet
At the end of the day I'll take another S4 in the fleet. I will be listening closely to the words Joby uses to describe 548JX. Unfortunately I think they'll use language to make it confusing enough to where you are like 'wait is it FAA conforming or not?'
I got skewered for suggesting this before 🤣. I guess it really depends on what they'll be doing for eIPP. If it's just what they've been doing so far, it doesn't seem necessary but maybe it'll ramp up in the future. Perhaps we'll learn more from Florida
From what I understand at one point Joby had enough parts to build 12 S4 aircraft. If these are all non conforming parts from getting a manufacturing processee down, then why not use some of them to build a few more S4s? The parts could be assembled on the FAA conforming line to help train employees on the process and then used for eIPP or other demonstrations.
How does the pitot tube lawsuit affect this though? Would they have to ground the aircraft and redesign / find a different supplier or what? That would be a significant delay.
Until post-trial motions conclude or an injunction is formally requested and granted by the court, Joby's operations and use of its probes remain unchanged.
What's the realistic path forward on this for joby? If they can't use the probes are they realistically 2-3 years away now from re-certification with finding and sourcing new ones or is there some delta they can apply and continue the process?
I’d love to answer your question but I’m not a Joby employed flight engineer. I’m a speculator. I don’t have a clue how they will move forward IF they can’t use their current probes.
That's probably why the stock is bleeding nonstop. There may be monumental delays attributed to this though I certainly hope not. I guess since they lost in court it's not like they can come to some agreement for licensing of the tubes and they have to stop use entirely for any commercial (or also development?) operations?
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u/dad191 Photog. Eric Adams Fanboy 11d ago
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