MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.: Wisk Aero, an autonomous aviation company, today announced the successful first flight of its second Generation 6 aircraft. This milestone is a powerful testament to Wisk’s flight test program and scale, coming shortly after the first Gen 6 aircraft started its flight test campaign in mid-December.

Conducted at Wisk’s flight test facility in Hollister, CA, the flight included vertical takeoff, hover, and chirp maneuvers - an important first step in characterizing the aircraft's performance. The addition of a second active Gen 6 flight test vehicle significantly expands Wisk’s capacity to collect data, validate systems, and accelerate the flight test campaign.

“Seeing the second Gen 6 aircraft take to the skies is a proud moment for Wisk,” said Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk. “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.”

The dual-aircraft testing phase will focus on expanding the flight envelope, including transitions from hover to wing-borne flight, while continuing to refine the control laws and system performance. Wisk’s Gen 6 aircraft is designed to meet or exceed current commercial aviation safety standards. The aircraft is all-electric and autonomous, with human oversight from a ground-based operator - a model Wisk believes is necessary for safety, scalability, and affordability.

This increase in flight test capacity directly supports Wisk’s path to commercialization, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s selection of Wisk’s partner, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), for the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Wisk will use its autonomous systems and aircraft to drive the program’s operational execution, conducting real-world flight operations in the U.S. National Airspace.

In addition to its work in Texas, Wisk continues to collaborate closely with the FAA and NASA to cement U.S. leadership in AAM.

About Wisk Aero

Wisk, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, is an autonomous aviation company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Learn more about Wisk at wisk.aero.

Fonte: Business Wire