“Bearing out the promise of these vehicles is the program’s goal,” he said.

NASA will work closely with the military and Joby in testing the aircraft, with the aim of using its research to guide air taxi development and support the F.A.A. Starting next year, NASA pilots and researchers will explore how Joby’s vehicle would operate in a typical city environment, examining flight procedures and how it could interact with air traffic control and local infrastructure. Joby’s aircraft is expected to remain at the base for at least a year, and the company has plans to deliver another in 2024.

Other leading air taxi companies have similar partnerships. Archer, in Santa Clara, Calif., announced this summer that it had signed Air Force contracts valued at up to $142 million, which included delivery of up to six aircraft similar to Joby’s. Beta, in Burlington, Vt., is the first electric air taxi manufacturer to receive an airworthiness certificate for manned flight from the military, with pilots from both the Air Force and the Army having flown its aircraft. That company is also installing the first electric aircraft charging station at a military installation.

In addition to support from the military, the air taxi industry has received substantial support from other aviation and automotive companies.

Joby’s investors include Delta Air Lines and Toyota, which is Joby’s largest external shareholder and is helping the air taxi manufacturer as it builds a factory in Ohio. Archer recently received investments from Boeing, United Airlines and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, which is helping Archer to establish a factory in Georgia. And Beta is collaborating with UPS to test deliveries in the United Arab Emirates and has raised funds from Fidelity and other investors.