Wisk Becomes First eVTOL Air Taxi to Fly Publicly in Los Angeles
By DRONELIFE Staff Author Walker Robinson
Wisk has develop into the primary Autonomous Air Taxi company to carry a public test in Los Angeles. The test was performed in October and demonstrated the viability of their Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicle.
Wisk is a subsidiary of Boeing based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. As an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Company, it’s committed to actualizing the longer term of aerial commuting, providing secure and accessible flights for everybody.
The eVTOL air taxi offers a commuter solution to traffic and carbon emission related to traditional automobiles. Wisk’s newest generation air taxi is fully electric and might carry as much as 4 passengers for a distance as much as 90 miles.
The test flight was conducted on the Long Beach airport under the supervision of each local and state officials including the mayor of Long Beach, Rex Richardson. “I’m proud to see the longer term of flight becoming a reality in Long Beach,” remarked Richardson. “Long Beach has been a frontrunner in aviation for many years and people careers helped construct and sustain the center class here for generations. I’m looking forward to working with Wisk and Boeing to create good jobs and integrating a secure, quiet, and environmentally responsible transportation option in Long Beach.”
While Wisk has performed over 1,700 test flights across the multiple generations of their eVTOL aircrafts, this was the primary time the technology was tested alongside other passenger airline operations, emulating a posh, real-world industrial airport environment. Its success is a key step in making autonomous aerial taxi service a reality.
“Autonomous flight is feasible today and it’s happening now in LA,” said Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk. “Los Angeles is a goal launch city for a lot of in our industry and we’re extremely proud to be the primary air taxi company to fly in LA – and to have done so with an autonomous aircraft. We’re fortunate to have the partnership and support of Boeing throughout the realm to assist construct relationships and advance our mission. We’re thankful to Long Beach for his or her ongoing partnership and support as we make secure, on a regular basis autonomous flight a reality for Southern California, and the world.”
The eVTOL used for the test was the fifth generation model, but Wisk has already unveiled their sixth generation model with increased capabilities and extra passenger seating.
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