Wisk Aero Generation 4, Cora (technology demonstrator)

Wisk Aero Cora (Generation 4) two passenger eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft

(Photo credit: Wisk Aero)

Generation 4, Cora (technology demonstrator)
Wisk Aero LLC.
Mountain View, California, USA
www.wisk.aero

Wisk Aero was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk Corporation and is headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA. The goal of the company is to manufacture autonomous on-demand passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with zero emissions for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company recognizes that self-flying cars will not be the first to market but expects to be the first autonomous on-demand air taxi passenger eVTOL service by 2030.

History
Zee Aero was founded in 2010. Kitty Hawk Corporation purchased Zee Aero aircraft and its technology and intellectual property rights in March 2018. In December 2019, a joint venture occurred between Boeing and Kitty Hawk and the company became Wisk Aero. Wisk Aero's goal is to operate one of the world's largest commercial on-demand air taxi fleets in the world throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. It was reported in late 2019, that some of Boeing's executives are already on Wisk Aero's board. In February 2022, Boeing invested another $450 million (USD) in Wisk Aero.

Generation 4: Cora autonomous two passenger full-scale eVTOL aircraft (technology demonstrator)
Generation 4, Cora is a fourth generation autonomous two passenger full-scale eVTOL aircraft used to determine if the aircraft will function in a real world setting. The aircraft is also being used to determine the final production design. This technology demonstrator holds one test pilot. The aircraft made 1,311 test flights from 2017-2018.

The cabin has a canopy over the cockpit providing excellent forward, left, right and upward views for the passengers. The aircraft has one low main wing for lift during forward flight. The low wing will greatly increase the range of this battery-only powered aircraft. Six booms are located under the low main wing which hold a total of 12 VTOL propellers. There is one rear pusher propeller for forward flight. This makes a total of 13 electric motors used to power the propellers and uses battery packs for its power source. There is one twin tail boom which has a continuous metal design which forms into two vertical upward stabilizers and then continue on to form the horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear for take off and landings.

Technology demonstrator aircraft are typically used for new unique aircraft to help inventors to flight test the aircraft, collect flight test data and to move the aircraft forward for to a production aircraft. At this stage, the company is beginning to develop a plan for a manufacturing plants to produce the aircraft.

The company reported in 2021 that over 1,500 test flights has been made with their aircraft. The company expects its autonomous eVTOL aircraft used for on-demand air taxi service.

Wisk Aero Generation 4, Cora two passenger eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft parked at an airport

Specifications:

Aircraft type: Two passenger autonomous eVTOL aircraft (technology demonstrator)
Piloting: Autonomous
Capacity: 2 passengers
Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h)
Range: 62 mi (100 km)
Flight Time: Unknown
Maximum altitude: 3,000 ft (900 m)
Propellers: 12 VTOL propellers, 1 rear pusher propellers
Electric Motors: 13 electric motors
Power source: Batteries
Fuselage material: Unknown
Windows: 1 large canopy type window over the cockpit
Wings: 1 low main wing, with 6 booms under the wings to hold the VTOL propellers
Tail: 1 twin tail boom and at the end has continuous metal forming two vertical upward stabilizers forming the horizontal stabilizer
Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.