South-east Queensland now has one company hoping to build the landing infrastructure for air taxis and a second hoping to provide self-flying vehicles before the 2032 Olympic Games.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Wisk regional director Catherine MacGowan with a fifth-generation self-flying air taxi. The company hopes to have an updated model flying over Brisbane before the 2032 Games.Now US aerospace manufacturer Wisk wants a base in Greater Brisbane, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the body that represents all south-east Queensland mayors.
A prototype of the self-flying taxi that Wisk hopes to operate over Greater Brisbane by 2032. This version lands and takes off vertically using 12 aero-props.“What we see behind us is the future of flight,” Schrinner said of the yellow, 13-prop Wisk air taxi parked in King George Square.Advertisement
Skyportz’ Clem Newton-Brown, who chairs a future aviation industry committee, believes “piloted” air taxis will enter the market before autonomous air taxis such as Wisk’s become the standard.