Dubai, UAE (Urban Transport News): Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility company and pioneer in autonomous, electric flight, unveiled the world’s first self-flying, all-electric, four-passenger vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in Dubai on 3rd October 2022. As Wisk’s go-to-market aircraft, Generation 6 represents the first-ever candidate for type certification by the FAA of an autonomous eVTOL.
The most advanced air taxi in the world, Generation 6 combines industry-leading autonomous technology and software, human oversight of every flight, and an overall simplified design to deliver one of the safest passenger transport systems in commercial aviation.
“In 2010, we set out to find a way to skip traffic and get to our destination faster. That inspiration evolved into a mission to deliver safe, everyday flight for everyone. Over the past 12 years, we’ve pursued that mission through the development of five different generations of full-scale aircraft. Our 6th Generation aircraft is the culmination of years of hard work from our industry-leading team, learnings from our previous generations of aircraft, commitment from our investors, and the evolution and advancement of technology,” said Gary Gysin, CEO of Wisk.
Wisk is fortunate to be backed by two aviation leaders, The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation. Additionally, through its strategic partnership with Boeing, Wisk has a competitive advantage leveraging 100+ years of Boeing expertise in aircraft development, scale manufacturing, and certification. In addition, Boeing’s eVTOL and autonomy engineering resources help further advance Wisk’s development.
With this aircraft, Wisk will redefine long-standing concepts of flight and usher in a safer, scalable, and more accessible era in aviation. Wisk’s newest aircraft will set the standard for the air taxi market and the future of travel by leveraging:
Through a multifaceted approach – including autonomous flight with human oversight, a simplified design with fewer moving parts, fully redundant systems, and no single point of failure – Wisk’s aircraft is being designed to exceed today’s rigorous aviation safety standards of a one-in-a-billion chance of an accident.
Wisk is one of the only Advanced Air Mobility company to pursue a self-flying first approach. This approach is core to the company’s overall strategy and is most importantly a critical element in bringing one of the safest systems to market in aviation. It is also the key to unlocking the scale and the full potential for the broader AAM industry. Wisk’s multi-faceted self-flying first approach includes:
Wisk’s 6th Generation aircraft leverages key learnings and insights from its previous five generations of eVTOL aircraft to deliver a new level of performance.
Wisk’s 6th Generation aircraft design and configuration includes:
Wisk leads the industry in customer research, incorporating key design aspects based on direct feedback from future passengers. Wisk’s 6th Generation aircraft has been designed with a tremendous amount of thought toward safety, comfort, and overall passenger experience.
By incorporating an automotive-like interior design, Generation 6 brings an elevated passenger experience. With optimal visibility, a spacious layout, comfortable seats, and productivity features like wifi and charging, passengers will have the flexibility to enjoy the view, be productive, or simply relax.
Wisk’s 6th Generation aircraft is designed to be a service for everyone, with a price target of $3 per passenger, per mile.
In addition to affordability, Wisk has made accessibility a cornerstone of its design process. Generation 6 incorporates a number of accessibility features, from an entry and exit designed for individuals across the mobility spectrum, to user interfaces that seamlessly accommodate people living with hearing, vision, and other impairments. Wisk is one of the few industry players that have prioritized catering to such a wide demographic of passengers.
Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations around the world, Wisk is an independent company backed by The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation. With over a decade of experience and 1600+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely, and sustainably.