Joby vs. Archer isn’t about aircraft. It’s about architecture… and Archer’s losing altitude on this one. (bad dad joke, I know… )
This weekend’s flashy debut of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) by Joby and Archer at the California International Air Show gave the public a rare glimpse of the future of flight. Quiet. Sleek. Zero emissions. Fighter jet aesthetics, drone-like hums.
But what investors didn’t see…and what insiders have been tracking for months…is the silent trench war happening behind the scenes: in headcount, certification roles, international infrastructure partnerships, and org design.
Archer Aviation just completed its longest flight yet - 55 miles in 31 minutes - proving its Midnight aircraft can handle real commercial routes like Manhattan to JFK in a fraction of the time it takes to drive.
Joby Aviation secured six-year exclusivity in Dubai, successfully test-flying its eVTOL over desert airspace with FAA-grade oversight.
And then there’s Tesla…. dropping a cryptic teaser of spinning rotors and the line:
“Long-distance travel with FSD Supervised will make you feel like you just teleported.”
That’s the kind of language you use when you’re building something that moves across dimensions of regulation, not just roads.
Is Tesla unleashing the autonomy engine of the skies on 10/7?
I’ll get to that in a moment.