air taxi startup Wisk Aero has released its sixth-generation aircraft, an all-electric four-seat aircraft that can fly without a human pilot. , the company backed by Boeing , said it will apply to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval of commercial air taxi services.
Wisk Aero was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk, and is working to become the first advanced air traffic company to receive the Federal Aviation Administration green light to conduct passenger testing. Kitty Hawk claims its sixth-generation aircraft is the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to be certified.
According to the provisions of FAA, airlines need to obtain three types of certifications before launching commercial services. Type certification means that the aircraft complies with all FAA's design and safety standards; production certification is the approval of the start of manufacturing the aircraft; and air carrier certification means that the company can formally carry out commercial air taxi services.
Wisk The Aero aircraft has six front rotors, each with five blades that can be tilted horizontally or vertically, and six rear rotors, each with two blades, which remain fixed in a vertical position. Its cruise speed is 120 knots, and its range is 90 miles (140 kilometers) with reserves, and can fly at an altitude of 2,500-4,000 feet above the ground, the company said.
Wisk Aero's goal is to one day provide intercity flight taxi services that can be summoned with apps like Uber or Lyft. The plan is to let Wisk Aero aircraft fly autonomously and be supervised by remote human pilots. Theoretically, the aircraft will take off and land from the roof of a building located.
The company said it hopes to launch air taxi services over the next five years, when it expects to make 14 million flights per year in about 20 major markets around the world. Of course, there are still serious obstacles before Wisk Aero or any company can launch a commercial service. The power-to-weight ratio is a huge challenge for electric flight. Energy density is a key indicator, and today's batteries contain less energy to get most aircraft off the ground. Currently, jet fuel gives us 43 times the energy of the same heavy battery.
