Wisk Aero

Corporate brand

Wisk Aero is a Boeing-owned aerospace company developing autonomous electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft for air-taxi and advanced-air-mobility services.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Wisk Aero is an aerospace manufacturer and advanced-air-mobility company headquartered in Mountain View, California. Its core business is the development of electrically powered vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft intended to operate as autonomous air taxis. Unlike many competing eVTOL developers that have emphasized piloted early operations, Wisk has positioned its aircraft around self-flying operation, with the longer-term objective of carrying passengers without an onboard pilot while maintaining a high level of automated flight supervision and integration with existing airspace systems. The company traces its technical and organizational roots to Zee Aero, an electric-aircraft venture founded in 2010 with financial backing from Google co-founder Larry Page. Zee Aero was combined with Kitty Hawk in 2017, and the resulting aircraft-development group was later associated with the Cora name. Kitty Hawk had pursued compact electric vertical-flight vehicles and advanced concepts for short-distance passenger transport. In June 2019, Kitty Hawk and Boeing announced a partnership intended to combine Kitty Hawk's electric-flight work with Boeing's aerospace engineering, certification, manufacturing, and industrial capabilities. The Cora team was subsequently separated and rebranded as Wisk Aero in December 2019. Wisk initially operated as a joint venture associated with Boeing and Kitty Hawk. In January 2022, Boeing announced a further investment of $450 million to support development of Wisk's sixth-generation passenger aircraft. In May 2023, Wisk announced that it had become a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary while continuing to operate as an independent business. This ownership structure gives Wisk access to Boeing's aerospace resources while allowing it to maintain a dedicated focus on autonomous eVTOL development. The company's aircraft program has progressed through six generations of design. Earlier Cora-generation vehicles were used for flight testing and technology development, while the Generation 6 aircraft was presented in 2022 as Wisk's candidate for FAA type certification. The design is intended to combine electric propulsion, distributed lift, vertical takeoff and landing, automated flight controls, and a supervised autonomous operating model. Wisk has stated that its aircraft development program has accumulated more than 1,750 test flights across its generations, although the company has not yet entered commercial passenger service. Wisk has also worked on the wider operating environment required for autonomous air taxis. Its activities have included cooperation with the New Zealand Government's Airspace Integration Trials program, participation in NASA's advanced-air-mobility and National Campaign activities, and planning discussions with airports, municipalities, infrastructure companies, and airspace-technology providers. Partnerships and memoranda of understanding have covered potential service development in Long Beach and the wider Los Angeles region, Houston and Sugar Land, southeastern Queensland in Australia, Miami-Dade, Japan, and other prospective markets. Public demonstrations have been an important part of Wisk's market and technology-development strategy. In July 2023, the company demonstrated autonomous flight publicly at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh using a fifth-generation Cora aircraft. In October 2023, it reported conducting public flights at Long Beach Airport, describing them as the first public eVTOL air-taxi flights by an autonomous eVTOL company in Los Angeles County. These demonstrations were intended to show the feasibility of autonomous operations rather than to represent commercial service. Wisk's positioning rests on three linked propositions: electric vertical flight for short urban and regional journeys, autonomy as a way to improve operating economics and scalability, and Boeing-backed engineering and certification capability. The company nevertheless faces substantial technical, regu…

History

Wisk Aero developed from a sequence of electric-aircraft ventures connected with Larry Page. Zee Aero was founded in 2010 and pursued small electric vertical-flight aircraft. In 2017, Zee Aero was combined with Kitty Hawk, another Page-backed aviation venture. Kitty Hawk's work included the Cora concept, a compact electric aircraft intended for vertical takeoff and landing and short-distance passenger transport. In 2018, Kitty Hawk reorganized and renamed the Zee.Aero group as Cora. On June 25, 2019, Kitty Hawk and Boeing announced a partnership to combine Kitty Hawk's electric-aircraft technologies with Boeing's aerospace expertise and industrial scale. Later that year, the Cora team was spun out as Wisk Aero. Gary Gysin served as the company's early chief executive. Wisk stated in 2020 that its planned vehicles would be self-flying, making autonomy a central part of its product strategy rather than a later enhancement to piloted aircraft. The company pursued both aircraft development and the regulatory and operational groundwork needed for autonomous air taxis. In February 2020, Wisk became a partner in New Zealand's Airspace Integration Trials program. In November of the same year, it joined NASA's Advanced Air Mobility Project, working in an ecosystem that included NASA, the FAA, and other participants in evaluating how emerging aircraft could operate alongside conventional traffic. Wisk also participated in NASA's National Campaign flight-demonstration activities in 2021. Wisk's relationship with Archer Aviation produced significant litigation. In April 2021, Wisk alleged that Archer had taken trade secrets and filed suit. Archer countersued several months later, seeking substantial damages and arguing that the action had harmed its fundraising efforts. The dispute became one of the most visible legal conflicts in the emerging air-taxi sector. The supplied reference material does not establish a final disposition and therefore no outcome is stated here. In May 2021, Wisk announced an arrangement with Blade Urban Air Mobility involving the potential operation of 30 Cora aircraft on Blade's United States network and inclusion in Blade's private-air-service platform. The arrangement illustrated Wisk's effort to develop an operating ecosystem through partnerships rather than relying solely on aircraft sales. In January 2022, Boeing announced a $450 million investment in Wisk. Boeing described an ambition for Wisk's sixth-generation aircraft to become the first autonomous passenger-carrying aircraft certified in the United States, with certification presentation discussed for around 2028. Wisk subsequently expanded its public demonstrations and local planning work. It worked with the Long Beach Economic Partnership in 2022, appeared in a 60 Minutes report about eVTOL aircraft, and publicly demonstrated an autonomous fifth-generation Cora flight at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2023. In October 2023, it reported public flights at Long Beach Airport. In May 2023, Wisk announced that it had become wholly owned by Boeing while remaining operationally independent. During 2024, Wisk established or expanded several regional and technology relationships. It worked with the City of Sugar Land and the Houston Airport System on bringing autonomous advanced air mobility to the Greater Houston region. It acquired Verocel for software verification and validation capabilities. Wisk and Skyports Infrastructure also worked on a potential southeastern Queensland network intended to support Generation 6 service around the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. In 2025, Sebastien Vigneron became chief executive, succeeding Brian Yutko, who moved to a product-development leadership role at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Wisk also announced that SkyGrid would become a subsidiary and signed memoranda of understanding with organizations in Miami-Dade, Florida; Japan; and other prospective markets. The company remains focused on certification, autonomous flight, airspace integration, and commercial network preparation. The supplied material includes a reported Generation 6 certification-model test flight in December 2025, but does not establish commercial certification or passenger service.

2025
Sebastien Vigneron is appointed CEO
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Vigneron takes over as chief executive after leading Generation 6 product development.
2024
Verocel is acquired
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Wisk acquires a software verification and validation company.
2023
Wisk becomes wholly owned by Boeing
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Wisk announces its transition to full Boeing ownership.
2023
First public autonomous flight demonstration
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
A fifth-generation Cora performs a public autonomous-flight demonstration at Oshkosh.
2022
Boeing commits $450 million
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Boeing announces a major investment to accelerate development of Wisk's autonomous passenger aircraft.
2022
Generation 6 aircraft is revealed
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Wisk presents its sixth-generation aircraft as a proposed FAA certification candidate.
2021
Wisk announces a Blade operating partnership
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
The companies outline a potential arrangement for 30 Cora aircraft to serve Blade's United States network.
2019
Wisk Aero is formed
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
The Cora team is spun out and rebranded as Wisk Aero following the Boeing–Kitty Hawk partnership.
2017
Zee Aero merges with Kitty Hawk
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
The two Page-backed aviation efforts are combined, consolidating work on electric and vertical-flight aircraft.
2010
Zee Aero is founded
[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
The predecessor venture Zee Aero begins developing electric vertical-flight aircraft with backing associated with Larry Page.

Products and positioning

Boeing-backed developer of autonomous, electric air taxis for certified advanced-air-mobility networks.

Electric autonomous eVTOL aircraft · 2018
Cora
Cora is the aircraft family that preceded and formed the basis of Wisk Aero's branded development program. It is an electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing design intended for short-distance passenger transport. Wisk used successive Cora generations for flight testing, autonomy development, propulsion evaluation, and public demonstrations. The fifth-generation vehicle was used in Wisk's public autonomous-flight demonstration at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2023. Cora has not been established in the supplied material as a certified or commercially operating passenger service.
Autonomous electric eVTOL aircraft · 2022
Generation 6
Generation 6 is Wisk's proposed certification aircraft and the company's principal commercial-development platform. Revealed in 2022, it is intended to operate as a self-flying passenger air taxi and is described as a candidate for FAA type certification of an autonomous eVTOL. The program combines electric propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, automated flight controls, autonomy, and airspace-integration technologies. Wisk has pursued prospective operating networks and local partnerships in the United States, Australia, and Japan, but the supplied sources do not confirm certification or commercial entry into service.
Aviation software and control technology
Autonomy and airspace-integration systems
Wisk develops the autonomy, flight-control, and airspace-integration technologies needed to support pilotless eVTOL operations. These capabilities are part of the aircraft program rather than a separately marketed mass-market product. The company has worked with NASA, the FAA ecosystem, New Zealand's airspace trials, and advanced-air-mobility service providers to evaluate how automated aircraft can interact with other traffic and operational infrastructure.

Controversies

2021
Wisk–Archer trade-secret litigation
Wisk sued Archer Aviation alleging theft of trade secrets. Archer later countersued and claimed that Wisk's action had impeded its ability to raise capital. The supplied material does not provide a definitive final resolution.
Source
2021
Wisk Aero sues Archer Aviation over alleged intellectual property theft
Wisk Aero filed a lawsuit against Archer Aviation alleging trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement. The lawsuit seeks to stop the alleged use of Wisk’s intellectual property and confidential information.
Source

2023Public Cora autonomous-flight demonstration
United States
Wisk used a fifth-generation Cora aircraft for a public autonomous-flight demonstration at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, presenting its autonomy strategy to the aviation community.
Outcome. The demonstration increased public visibility for Wisk's autonomous eVTOL program; it was not reported as commercial passenger service.
Source
2023Long Beach public-flight program
United States · California
Wisk conducted public flights at Long Beach Airport as part of its effort to demonstrate autonomous advanced-air-mobility operations in an urban-region setting.
Outcome. Wisk described the activity as the first public flights by an autonomous eVTOL air-taxi company in Los Angeles County.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Appoint Sebastien Vigneron as CEOOther
Background
Wisk continued advancing its Generation 6 aircraft and related autonomy and airspace-integration systems.
Action taken
Sebastien Vigneron became CEO, succeeding Brian Yutko.
Aftermath
Yutko moved to a product-development leadership role at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, while Vigneron took executive responsibility for Wisk.
Source
2024
Acquire VerocelM&A
Background
Autonomous aircraft certification requires rigorous software verification and validation.
Action taken
Wisk acquired Verocel, a software verification and validation company.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened capabilities relevant to Wisk's autonomous-aircraft certification work.
Source
2023
Move to wholly owned Boeing subsidiary statusM&A
Background
Wisk's development program remained closely connected to Boeing after the companies' earlier partnership.
Action taken
Wisk announced that Boeing had become its sole owner while Wisk would continue operating independently.
Aftermath
Wisk remained focused on autonomous eVTOL development within the Boeing group.
Source
2022
Accelerate autonomous passenger-aircraft developmentStrategy
Background
Wisk required substantial capital to advance its sixth-generation aircraft toward certification.
Action taken
Boeing announced a $450 million investment in Wisk.
Aftermath
Wisk continued development of its Generation 6 aircraft under increased Boeing ownership support.
Boeing investment. $450 million (January 2022)
Source
2019
Create a dedicated Wisk Aero companyStrategy
Background
Boeing and Kitty Hawk sought to combine electric-aircraft development with Boeing's aerospace expertise and scale.
Action taken
The Cora development team was separated and rebranded as Wisk Aero.
Aftermath
Wisk became a dedicated company focused on electric autonomous eVTOL aircraft.
Source

Recent events

2025
Sebastien Vigneron becomes Wisk CEO[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
Sebastien Vigneron was appointed chief executive after leading Generation 6 product development, including autonomy and airspace-integration work.
2025
SkyGrid becomes a Wisk subsidiary[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Wisk announced that SkyGrid, an advanced-air-mobility third-party service provider, would become a subsidiary.
2024
Wisk expands Houston-area advanced-air-mobility planning[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Other
The company announced cooperation with Sugar Land and later the Houston Airport System to explore autonomous advanced-air-mobility services in the region.
2024
Wisk acquires Verocel[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Wisk acquired Verocel, a company focused on software verification and validation, strengthening capabilities relevant to autonomous aviation systems.
2024
Wisk and Skyports plan a Queensland entry network[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Other
Wisk and Skyports Infrastructure expanded their cooperation to identify a potential entry-into-service network for Wisk's Generation 6 aircraft in southeastern Queensland.
2023
Wisk becomes a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Wisk announced that Boeing had become its sole owner and said the company would continue operating independently.
2023
Wisk conducts a public autonomous flight demonstration[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Product generation · Other
A fifth-generation Cora aircraft performed a public autonomous-flight demonstration at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
2023
Wisk conducts public flights at Long Beach Airport[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Other
Wisk reported public autonomous eVTOL flights at Long Beach Airport in Los Angeles County.
2022
Boeing announces a $450 million Wisk investment[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Other
Boeing announced a $450 million investment to support Wisk's autonomous passenger-aircraft development.
2022
Wisk reveals its Generation 6 aircraft[1]Wisk Aeroen.wikipedia.org
Product launch · Product generation
Wisk introduced its sixth-generation aircraft concept as its proposed FAA type-certification candidate for an autonomous eVTOL.

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