By Gary S. Vasilash

There is something to be said for tradition, so Joby Aviation, which is developing electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) for commercial passenger service—including what has heretofore been the more terrestrial ride sharing—has acquired a building a building on the grounds of the Dayton (Ohio) International Airport for a manufacturing operation.

Why Dayton? Well while one assumes that the state probably made it an appealing choice, there is also the fact that the first aircraft manufacturing facility, operated by the Wright Brothers, was located in Dayton.

Joby plans to produce up to 500 eVTOLs per year.

And to achieve that capability it will invest up to $500 million in the region.

It is anticipated there will be up to 2,000 jobs created in the area.

Didier Papadopoulous, president of Aircraft OEM at Joby, said, “Later this year we expect to begin subtractive manufacturing”—also known more simply as “machining”—“of titanium and aluminum aircraft parts as we continue to grow our workforce in Dayton.”

Machining components makes this whole undertaking seem more real.