Joby Aviation’s 2026 Electric Skies Tour will make a stop in Oklahoma City on September 29, bringing the company’s autonomous aviation technology to Oklahoma for a demonstration involving state officials, federal aviation representatives and aerospace industry leaders.
The invitation-only event, organized with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics, will feature Joby Aviation’s autonomous J208 aircraft, a modified Cessna Grand Caravan equipped with supervised autonomy technology. The demonstration is intended to provide participants with a closer look at how autonomous systems could be incorporated into existing aircraft and aviation operations.
The Oklahoma City event will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at AAR Hangar 2 at OKC Will Rogers International Airport. The aircraft is expected to depart between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. for the next destination on the nationwide tour.
Oklahoma Connects Autonomous Aviation Demonstration to uFLY Initiative
Oklahoma’s participation is linked to Utah’s uFLY: America’s AAM Crossroads to the West eVTOL Integrated Pilot Program, or eIPP. The federal initiative is focused on accelerating the safe integration of advanced air mobility technologies into the National Airspace System.
Representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics, Joby Aviation, legislative leadership and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to participate in the Oklahoma City event.
As part of the program, attendees will be able to inspect the J208 aircraft and its technology, hear remarks from state and industry officials and observe a demonstration of Joby’s portable Air Operations Center. The schedule also includes an opportunity to watch the aircraft taxi and depart Oklahoma City.
The stop is designed to highlight Oklahoma’s involvement in the broader development and integration of emerging aviation systems as states and federal agencies examine how autonomous and advanced air mobility aircraft could operate within the existing aviation network.
Joby J208 Demonstrates Supervised Autonomy Technology
Joby’s J208 is based on the Cessna Grand Caravan, an aircraft widely used for passenger, cargo and specialized operations. The modified aircraft uses a supervised autonomy system to demonstrate how autonomous technologies can be introduced into existing aviation platforms and operational environments.
Potential applications for the technology include regional logistics, emergency response and defense missions, as well as other aviation operations that require scalable capabilities.
Using an established aircraft platform also provides an opportunity to evaluate autonomous systems in conditions that more closely resemble existing commercial and government aviation operations.
The Oklahoma City demonstration will include Joby’s portable Air Operations Center, which supports the company’s autonomous flight operations. Media attending the event will have opportunities to obtain aircraft footage, observe the operations center demonstration and capture the J208 during taxi and departure.
Oklahoma Builds Role in Advanced Air Mobility Development
Oklahoma has sought to expand its position in advanced aviation through its existing aerospace infrastructure and its participation in programs involving advanced air mobility.
The state is also home to the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, one of the federal agency’s major aviation facilities. The center supports a range of FAA functions, including aviation training, logistics and technical operations.
That established federal presence, combined with Oklahoma’s aerospace and aviation industry, provides a foundation for work involving the testing and integration of next-generation flight technologies.
The Electric Skies Tour stop comes as aviation companies, regulators and state governments continue exploring how autonomous systems and advanced air mobility aircraft can be safely incorporated into the National Airspace System.
For Oklahoma, participation in the uFLY coalition and the Joby demonstration offers state and industry stakeholders an opportunity to examine the technology firsthand while contributing to broader discussions around operational standards and integration.
The September 29 event remains invitation-only, with attendance focused on government, aviation industry and media representatives. The Oklahoma City stop will conclude with the J208 taxiing and departing Will Rogers International Airport as Joby continues its 2026 Electric Skies Tour.
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