Wisk Aero’s autonomous Generation 6 aircraft completes its maiden sortie. [Credit: Wisk Aero]
Key Takeaways:
Wisk Aero's Generation 6, an autonomous eVTOL air taxi backed by Boeing, successfully completed its first untethered, pilotless flight at its Hollister, California test facility.
The Gen 6 is designed for full autonomy from launch, following preprogrammed flight plans and aiming to be the first autonomous passenger-carrying aircraft certified in the U.S.
Wisk plans extensive testing, including detect and avoid systems, and collaborations with the FAA and NASA, with a goal for commercial launch in U.S. cities before 2030.
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.
