Joby S4 eVTOL joins Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 fleet

The Joby Aviation S4 is now in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, giving sim pilots a chance to fly the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft virtually. A writer who spent several hours with the simulated S4 said it changed his prior assumptions about eVTOLs, which he had viewed with concern ahead of their expected arrival in shared airspace.

The aircraft's six electric-motor-powered rotors articulate in unison, moving from a 90-degree upward position for hovering to 0 degrees for cruise flight. According to the account, the transition takes about five seconds. The S4 runs on batteries alone and has a total range of 150 miles, with a planned operational range of 100 miles and the remaining 50 miles reserved as a safety margin. The simulator version is set up for VFR operations, matching its real-world counterpart.

The writer said the S4 looks unusual parked among high-wing singles, business jets and helicopters, with a fuselage, elevons and rotors that give it a futuristic appearance. He compared the experience to combining the best parts of a helicopter and an airplane.