Wisk Aero (Boeing · eVTOL (Electric VTOL) / Urban Air Mobility · USA · Digital Age (2010–present)
Open in interactive gallery →See aircraft like this on the live radar →The Wisk Aero Cora is an American self-flying electric vertical-takeoff aircraft built by Wisk Aero, a Boeing and Kitty Hawk joint venture chasing urban air mobility. Development ran from 2017 to 2024, with Wisk positioning the Cora as the first pilotless passenger aircraft aimed at FAA type certification — a bold bet on both regulators and engineering. The prototype flew in October 2017; the production-intent Generation 6 followed in 2023. Wisk is targeting FAA certification in 2027-2028 and revenue service in named US cities by 2028-2029.
Generation 6 is a 6-seat fixed-wing eVTOL carrying 4 passengers plus cargo, with no onboard pilot. Twelve lift rotors sit on tilting nacelles above the wing, joined by 2 pusher motors for forward flight. The 12 lift rotors handle takeoff and landing; in cruise the wings carry the load and the pushers provide thrust, while the lift rotors stop and lock to cut drag. Cruise tops out at 220 km/h, range is 144 km (~90 miles), service ceiling 1,500 m, and MTOW 1,800 kg. A 250 kWh lithium-ion battery feeds the system — enough for typical 30-50 km commute legs with reserves. Wisk's flight-control software runs every phase of flight, and ground supervisors monitor several aircraft at once from a remote station.
Wisk sits among roughly ten serious eVTOL programmes worldwide, alongside Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Vertical Aerospace, Beta Technologies, Lilium, and EHang. Its differentiator is fully self-flying operation with no onboard pilot — cutting operating cost (pilot labour accounts for ~70% of VTOL operating cost) but demanding FAA certification of a self-flying fixed-wing aircraft under flight rules that do not yet exist. In 2023-2024 the FAA stood up a new Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) regulatory framework that could open the door to self-flying certification by 2027-2028. Wisk's October 2024 Series-B raised $300 million led by Boeing, which has now committed more than $1 billion through Series A and B combined. First commercial service is planned for Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and the San Francisco Bay Area from 2028 onwards.
The Wisk Aero Cora is a self-flying electric aircraft made in America. It can carry up to four passengers without a pilot on board. Wisk Aero built it as a teamwork project between Boeing and Kitty Hawk.
The Cora takes off and lands straight up and down, like a helicopter. Twelve spinning rotors on top lift it into the air. Once it is flying forward, two pusher motors at the back push it ahead. The rotors then stop and lock in place to save energy.
The Cora can fly at up to 220 kilometers per hour — faster than most cars on a highway. Its range is about 144 kilometers on a single charge. A big battery pack powers all its motors.
The first Cora prototype flew in October 2017. A newer version called Generation 6 first flew in 2023. Wisk Aero hopes to get full approval from American safety officials by 2027 or 2028. After that, it could carry real passengers in named American cities.
No, the Cora flies all by itself. Smart computers handle takeoff, flying, and landing. There is no human pilot inside or outside the aircraft. It is one of the first self-flying passenger aircraft ever built.
The Cora uses 12 spinning rotors to lift straight up, just like a drone. Once it is high enough, two pusher motors move it forward. Then the big wings take over and keep it flying. The rotors stop spinning and lock in place to save battery power.
Wisk Aero hopes to get safety approval by 2027 or 2028. Passenger trips could start in named American cities around 2028 or 2029. There is still some work to do before it is ready for everyday riders.
Pilotless flight is Wisk Aero's central differentiator and the most contested element of its programme. Three arguments drive the choice. First, cost: pilot labour is the largest line item in advanced air mobility operations (~50-70% of total cost), and removing the pilot roughly halves unit operating cost, letting Wisk target ~$5 per mile against Uber's $1.50 per mile and traditional helicopters at $30+ per mile. Second, throughput: self-flying operations can fly with tighter spacing and manage airspace more densely than piloted ones, and Wisk projects 10-20× more daily flights per vertiport than piloted competitors. Third, safety: Wisk argues that pilotless flight eliminates the pilot-error class of accidents, which accounts for around 60% of aviation losses. The downside is twofold — neither regulators nor the flying public have ever accepted pilotless commercial passenger flight. Wisk is betting that the FAA and passengers will come around; Joby and Archer are hedging by certifying piloted aircraft first. The contest between self-flying and piloted eVTOL business models is one of the most closely watched aerospace decisions of the 2025-2030 window.