A Boeing subsidiary’s air taxi is finally coming into sight on the horizon.
Wisk Aero’s Generation 6 eVTOL completed its maiden flight last week in California, according to New Atlas. That feat is especially noteworthy since the company claims it makes its autonomous aircraft the first of its kind to be a candidate for government certification.
The milestone was achieved on Dec.16 at Wisk’s test facility in Hollister, Calif. During the flight, which was captured on video and lasted about one minute, the yellow eVTOL took off, hovered, and performed several stabilizing maneuvers in the air before softly touching down. The company says the brief flight proves that the Gen 6’s core flight systems are functional, and is the first step in what will be an “extensive” testing campaign. The company has completed over 1,750 flights with previous prototypes, including the first in Los Angeles.
The initial hover test makes Wisk the first company to have designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL. Unlike aircrafts from some of its peers, like Joby and Archer, Gen 6 features an autonomous-first design that completely lacks flight controls. Instead, the company’s latest will utilize a “Multi-Vehicle Supervisor” system where it is monitored from the ground by a human who overseeing three aircraft at a time.
Because it doesn’t need a pilot, Gen 6 has room for four passengers and their carry-on luggage. It features a set of wings that span 50 feet and are equipped with six dedicated lift rotors and six convertible lift/horizontal rotors. Wisk says this setup allows the aircraft to transition from takeoff to horizontal flight in just 30 seconds. The company also says its eVTOL can cruise at speeds of up to 120 knots (roughly 138 mph)and reach a max altitude of 4,000 feet. The finished aircraft will have a flight range of 90 miles and can be charged for operation in as little as 15 minutes.
Last week’s flight makes Gen 6 the first-ever candidate for FAA-certified commercial autonomous operation, Wisk said in a press release. If the eVTOL progresses as the company hopes it will, it plans to operate it air taxi service in several U.S. cities, including Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami at launch. No timetable for when that will be has been announced.
