Wisk Aero Achieves First Flight of Generation 6 Autonomous eVTOL

This article is based on an official press release from Wisk Aero.

Wisk Aero Completes First-Flight of Generation 6 Autonomous eVTOL

Wisk Aero, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing, has successfully completed the first flight of its Generation 6 (Gen 6) electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. According to the company’s official announcement, the milestone test took place on December 16, 2025, at the Wisk flight test facility in Hollister, California.

This event marks a critical step forward for the company, as the Gen 6 aircraft is the first candidate for FAA Type Certification of a fully autonomous, passenger-carrying eVTOL. Unlike many of its competitors in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector, Wisk is pursuing a strategy that eliminates the onboard pilot entirely, relying instead on autonomous systems monitored by ground-based supervisors.

Flight Test Details

The flight test was conducted at the Hollister Municipal Airport. Wisk reports that the aircraft performed a fully autonomous vertical takeoff, hovered at an altitude of approximately 16 feet (5 meters), and executed stabilized flight maneuvers before landing. The company confirmed that the flight was untethered and conducted without a pilot or passengers on board.

Sebastien Vigneron, CEO of Wisk Aero, emphasized the success of the operation in a statement regarding the milestone:

“This first flight is the moment our team has been working toward… It reaffirms our belief in autonomy, and we are even more energized to continue the journey to bring safe, everyday flight to everyone.”

The company states that this test validates the core flight control systems and propulsion of the production-conforming design. This achievement kicks off a rigorous flight test campaign required to meet FAA certification standards.

Generation 6 Technical Specifications

The Gen 6 aircraft is a four-passenger, all-electric air taxi designed specifically for urban air mobility. According to technical details released by Wisk, the aircraft features a proprietary 12-propeller propulsion system. This includes six tilting front propellers for lift and thrust, and six fixed rear propellers dedicated to lift.

Key performance specifications provided by Wisk include:

• Capacity: 4 passengers with luggage space.
• Range: 90 miles (144 km) with reserves.
• Cruising Speed: 120 knots (approximately 138 mph).
• Altitude: 2,500 to 4,000 feet above ground level.
• Charging Time: Approximately 15 minutes.

Brian Yutko, Wisk Chairman and VP of Product Development at Boeing, highlighted the collaboration between the subsidiary and its parent company:

“The engineering methods and technologies are all a valuable source of insight for Boeing as we work together and thoughtfully apply them to the future of flight.”

AirPro News Analysis: The Autonomy-First Strategy

Wisk Aero’s approach distinguishes it significantly from other major players in the eVTOL space, such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation. While competitors generally plan to launch commercial services with piloted aircraft in the mid-2020s, Wisk has opted to skip the piloted phase entirely. This “autonomy-first” strategy aims to reduce long-term operating costs and eliminate human error, but it likely pushes their commercial entry to later in the decade.

The backing of Boeing provides Wisk with substantial stability. As a wholly-owned subsidiary since mid-2023, Wisk benefits from Boeing’s financial resources and certification expertise, potentially allowing it to weather the longer regulatory timeline associated with certifying an autonomous aircraft. Wisk is currently the first company to submit a Type Certification application for an autonomous eVTOL and has submitted G-1 and G-2 issue papers to the FAA.

Industry Context

The successful flight of the Gen 6 places Wisk firmly in the “reality” phase of development, moving beyond concept art to production-representative hardware. While other companies like EHang are already operating certified autonomous aircraft in China, Wisk is positioning itself to lead the U.S. market in autonomous passenger flight.

By designing the aircraft with a “friendly,” bright yellow aesthetic and emphasizing ground-based human oversight, Wisk appears to be proactively addressing potential public hesitation regarding pilotless flight. The company argues that their system, which utilizes “Multi-Vehicle Supervisors” on the ground, offers a scalable and safe solution for future urban transportation.

Sources: Wisk Aero Press Release