TLDR
- Joby Aviation completed a 3,199-mile autonomous flight across the U.S. using a converted Cessna Caravan with zero pilot control inputs
- The aircraft flew from California to North Carolina, stopping at multiple airports including Shaw Air Force Base
- Joby’s autonomy tech has now logged over 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours
- JOBY stock initially jumped on the news but reversed and turned negative as investors took profits
- CEO JoeBen Bevirt sold over 606,000 shares on Tuesday as part of a pre-arranged trading plan
Joby Aviation completed its first autonomous cross-country flight on Thursday, covering 3,199 miles from California to North Carolina’s Outer Banks with no control inputs from the onboard safety pilot.
$JOBY COMPLETES 3,199-MILE AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT ACROSS THE U.S. WITH ZERO PILOT CONTROL INPUTS
A converted Cessna Caravan using Joby’s autonomy system flew from California to North Carolina, handling taxi, takeoff, navigation and landing autonomously.
The onboard safety pilot made…
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) September 18, 2026
The converted Cessna Caravan flew autonomously from Concord, California, making stops in Phoenix, Fort Worth, Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, and finally Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina. Remote supervision came from Joby’s California headquarters and Shaw Air Force Base, up to 2,323 miles away.
The flight ended near the First Flight Monument at Kitty Hawk, a deliberate nod to the Wright brothers’ first flight at the same location.
The aircraft handled some challenging conditions along the way. It integrated into Phoenix Deer Valley, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, and rerouted around severe weather in real time.
Joby says the demonstration shows the technology’s potential for commercial freight, medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics.
Autonomy Stack Has Military Backing
Joby acquired the autonomy system from Xwing in 2024. Since then, it has logged more than 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
The system has also been tested in three major U.S. military exercises, giving it a level of real-world validation beyond typical commercial development.
The aircraft is currently making its return trip to California, with stops planned in Washington D.C., Wichita, and Portland.
Stock Reverses Despite Milestone
JOBY stock was down around 2% on the day despite the positive news. The stock initially moved higher after the announcement but gave back those gains as investors sold into the news.
JOBY is down 54% so far in 2026, compared to an 11% gain in the S&P 500. Concerns around heavy capital spending and the long road to full regulatory approval for autonomous flight continue to weigh on the stock.
Adding to the pressure, CEO JoeBen Bevirt sold more than 606,000 shares on Tuesday, according to an SEC filing published Thursday. The sale was executed under a trading plan adopted on March 5, 2026, and involved stock held by The Joby Trust, of which Bevirt is the beneficial owner.
The trades were carried out in multiple transactions as part of the pre-arranged plan.
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