The Wisk Aero Generation 5 electric air taxi reaches a major milestone
Becoming the first eVTOL firm to make public flights in Los Angeles, Wisk Aero has utilized their Generation 5 electric air taxi for autonomous passenger flights tested at Long Beach airport. The goal of the tests was to improve upon the 1,700 tests that were previously run. Wisk was able to do autonomous operations in real world settings alongside other aircraft operations thanks to these test flights.
Wisk’s “Cora”, a Wisk Aero Generation 5 electric air taxi eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, enabled the multi-transition service during the Long Beach Festival of Flight. This is the second time that an autonomous eVTOL fixed wing aircraft had been seen in public after Wisk made its debut earlier this year in July at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
“Autonomous flight is possible today and it’s happening now in L.A.,” said Wisk CEO Brian Yutko in a statement. “Los Angeles is a target launch city for many in our industry and we are extremely proud to be the first air taxi company to fly in L.A. and to have done so with an autonomous aircraft.”
In addition to being safe and sound, the flight of the Wisk Aero Generation 5 electric air taxi gave the company insightful information. Along with other city authorities, Wisk also spoke with the mayor of Long Beach on the future of air mobility.
“I am proud to see the future of flight becoming a reality in Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “I am looking forward to working with Wisk and Boeing to create good jobs and integrating a safe, quiet, and environmentally responsible transportation option in Long Beach.”
Earlier this year, Wisk became a fully owned subsidiary of Boeing, granting it access to the airframer’s R&D, certification, and testing knowledge. By the end of the decade, the company expects that air taxis will become widely used.