Generation 3, Z-P2 (proof of concept)

(Photo credit: Wisk Aero)

Generation 3, Z-P2 (proof of concept)
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 3: Z-P2 full-scale crewed eVTOL aircraft (proof of concept)
The Z-P2 is a third generation full-scale crewed eVTOL aircraft to determine if the aircraft will function in the real world. This was Zee Aero's (now Wisk Aero) third aircraft and was flown by one test pilot. The main fuselage of the aircraft is quite narrow. The cruise speed, range, flight time and payload weights are unknown. The aircraft is powered by battery packs. The aircraft made 70 test flights from 2015-2017.

The aircraft has one high wing for lift during forward flight. This high 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 high main wing that hold a total of 12 VTOL propellers. There are 13 electric motors powering the propellers. The cabin is completely enclosed with a front window and each door has windows. There is one standard rear tail (that is, one vertical stabilizer and rear horizontal stabilizers) and one small downward vertical stabilizer. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear for take off and landings.

A proof of concept aircraft is typically for new unique aircraft to help inventors to flight test the aircraft, collect flight test data, to find the right components for the aircraft, to help find other materials needed to make the aircraft and to test to make sure the aircraft will fly in the real world. Many times a proof of concept aircraft will not be a complete aircraft and will not look like the serial production model and in fact, proof of concept aircraft are not intended to be an early version of the planned production model. While very little of this aircraft is known about, the construction of, the test flights and test data has been instrumental in helping make Wisk's Cora eVTOL passenger 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 Generation 3, Z-P2, being towed on the tarmac

Specifications:

Aircraft type: Full-scale crewed eVTOL aircraft (proof of concept)
Piloting: 1 pilot
Cruise speed: Unknown
Propellers: 12 VTOL propellers, 1 rear pusher propeller
Electric Motors: 13 electric motors
Power source: Batteries
Fuselage material: Unknown
Windows: Standard windows found in small general aviation airplanes, 1 front window and 2 side windows
Wings: 1 high main wing, with 6 booms under the wings to hold the VTOL propellers
Tail: 1 conventional tail (that is, 1 standard rear vertical stabilizer, 1 horizontal stabilizer), plus 1 small downward vertical 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.