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Wisk Aero (formerly Kitty Hawk) Cora (Generation 4) (technology demonstrator)

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

 

Cora (Generation 4) (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 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with zero emissions, for advanced air mobility (AAM) and air cargo. The company recognizes that self-flying cars will not be the first to market but expects to be the first autonomous eVTOL passenger aircraft to market. 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, Kitty Hawk Corporation became Wisk Aero.

In 2019, a joint venture occurred between Boeing and Kitty Hawk with the goal to operate one of the world's largest urban air taxi fleets in the world, for use in United States, Europe and Asia. In February 2022, Boeing invested another $450 million in Wisk Aero. It was reported in late 2019, that some of Boeing's executives are already on Wisk Aero's board.

Cora Generation Four two passenger autonomous subscale eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft
The Cora Generation Four is a two passenger autonomous subscale eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft is being used to determine if the aircraft will function in a real world setting and the aircraft is used towards working at determining the final production design. This first technology demonstrator holds one test pilot. 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. There is one rear pusher propeller for forward flight. Six booms have been installed under the low main wing which hold a total of 12 VTOL propellers. This makes a total of 13 electric motors used to power the propellers on this aircraft. 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 for air taxi service, for other types of passenger air mobility missions and for autonomous air cargo transportation.

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

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

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Two passenger autonomous eVTOL technology demonstrator aircraft
  • 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.

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