From self-driving cars to self-flying planes: Autonomous aircraft completes first ever flight across America, honours Wright Brothers

For the first time ever, a self-flying airplane has flown 3,199 miles to complete a journey across the US. A single-engine Cessna Caravan, managed by aerospace firm Joby Aviation, completed the transcontinental voyage without a human pilot onboard, relying entirely on autonomous computing architecture to navigate every stage from runway taxiing to takeoffs and touchdowns. The robotic aircraft departed Joby’s base in Concord, California, on September 7. Rather than flying in a straight non-stop sprint, the autonomous Cessna executed a multi-leg journey across different regional environments.“By integrating an autonomous system onto an already-certified airframe, Joby offers a scalable path to autonomous air logistics. During the cross-country journey, the aircraft proved its ability to seamlessly integrate into high-density environments like Phoenix Deer Valley, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, while rerouting around severe weather and thunderstorms in real time without prior airport familiarity,” the company said in a statement.JoeBen Bevirt, founder and chief executive of Joby Aviation, hailed the achievement as an early look into a transforming industry.“This journey across America offers a glimpse into a new era of aviation. Autonomy has an important role to play in the future of flight, allowing us to connect remote communities, deliver critical supplies, respond faster to disasters, support military operations, and keep pilots out of harm’s way,” said Bevirt.

Navigating busy hubs and storms across 3,199-mile journey

The robotic aircraft departed Joby’s base in Concord, California. The aircraft touched down at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, alongside a stop at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.Notably, the automated system steered through challenging conditions, including severe thunderstorms and heavy air traffic around Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, which is recognised among the busiest general aviation airfields in the nation.On September 14, following its transcontinental flying, the plane performed a celebratory flyover above the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, honouring the site where Wilbur and Orville Wright made their historic initial flight in 1903.The autonomous craft is set to make its return voyage toward California with itinerary layovers scheduled across Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah and Oregon.The aircraft will now begin its return westbound journey, including stops in Raleigh (KRDU), Fredericksburg/Washington, D.C. (KRMN), Louisville (KSDF), Wichita (KICT), Oklahoma City (KOKC), Salt Lake City (KSLC), and Portland (KPDX).