Wisk Aero, a Boeing subsidiary, said Monday that it flew its second Generation 6 aircraft for the first time, adding another test vehicle to the company’s autonomous eVTOL flight test program. The Gen 6 is an all-electric, autonomous eVTOL aircraft the company says is designed to operate with human oversight from a ground-based operator.
The flight took place at Wisk’s test facility in Hollister, California, and included a vertical takeoff, hover and chirp maneuvers, according to the company. The first Gen 6 aircraft began flight testing in mid-December.
“Seeing the second Gen 6 aircraft take to the skies is a proud moment for Wisk,” Wisk CEO Sebastien Vigneron said. “This pace of execution is exactly what is required to meet the rigorous safety standards of commercial aviation. Having multiple aircraft in flight testing allows us to move faster, learn quicker, and stay on the leading edge of autonomous aviation. Every flight provides crucial data that matures our aircraft and autonomous system, bringing us one step closer to delivering a certified, autonomous air taxi service.”
With two Gen 6 aircraft now in testing, Wisk says the program will focus on expanding the aircraft’s flight envelope, including transitions from hover to wing-borne flight, as well as refining control laws and system performance.
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