Wisk Aero’s autonomous Generation 6 aircraft completes its maiden sortie. [Credit: Wisk Aero]
Key Takeaways:
Wisk Aero's Generation 6, an autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, successfully completed its maiden untethered flight, notably without a pilot in the cockpit, performing a vertical takeoff, hover, and limited forward movement.
Wisk aims to be the first to certify an autonomous passenger-carrying aircraft in the U.S., planning for commercial launch in cities like Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles before 2030 by emphasizing full autonomy from the outset.
The company is embarking on a rigorous test campaign for the Gen 6, collaborating with the FAA and NASA to achieve certification and integrate autonomous flights into the national airspace, targeting commercial aircraft safety standards.
It’s not every day that a new aircraft makes its first flight. Even rarer is a first flight without a pilot in the cockpit.
But that’s exactly how the inaugural sortie for the Generation 6—an autonomous, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi being developed by Boeing’s Wisk Aero—played out.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
