A major step forward in autonomous aviation was achieved after Wisk Aero successfully flew its latest electric aircraft in the United States. The Boeing backed startup completed the first flight of its Generation 6 autonomous electric vertical take off and landing aircraft at its test facility in Hollister, California.
The aircraft carried out a vertical take off, hover and stabilised flight as part of its United States certification programme. The company said this marks the first test flight of an autonomous passenger aircraft submitted for type certification to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“This first flight is the moment our team has been working towards,” said Sebastien Vigneron, Chief Executive Officer of Wisk Aero. He added that the achievement strengthens the company’s belief in autonomy and its mission to make safe and everyday flight accessible to the public.
Wisk said the flight validated key flight systems and signals the start of a wider test campaign focused on safety and performance. The company has already completed more than 1750 test flights across 6 aircraft generations.
Brian Yutko, Vice President of Product Development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and chairman of Wisk’s board, said the programme offers broader value. “The engineering methods and technologies are all a valuable source of insight for Boeing as we work together and thoughtfully apply them to the future of flight,” he said.
The company added that future tests will include operations at higher speeds and altitudes, along with more complex manoeuvres. Wisk said it will continue working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and other partners as it moves toward commercial launch plans.
According to the company, initial commercial services are being planned for major cities including Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, as part of its long term vision for autonomous air mobility.
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