Wisk Aero has chosen Liebherr-Aerospace to develop and supply the actuation system for its Generation 6 autonomous, all-electric eVTOL aircraft. The system will control the flight surfaces, including flaperons, elevators and rudders, as well as the tilt angle of the propulsion system. The agreement extends through development, certification and full-rate production.

“The actuation system is one of the most critical systems on our aircraft,” says Eric Haugen, head of supply chain management, Wisk Aero. “Selecting Liebherr, a well-established, world-class aerospace company, as our long-term supplier for this system is a major milestone for the programme. Its institutional knowledge, combined with our innovative approach, has created a powerful, collaborative team dedicated to delivering a safe, certified, all-electric aircraft.”

Liebherr is adapting its modular flight control system, LiVCAS, to suit the smaller, all-electric architecture of the Gen 6. Wisk’s avionics and flight control teams are working closely with Liebherr to integrate its technology.

“We are very pleased to have been selected by Wisk to develop and deliver the actuation system,” says Dr Klaus Schneider, chief technology officer, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS. “Our versatile, modular, flight control actuation concept has convinced our customer, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with Wisk to help shape the future of air transportation.”

The system has built-in redundancy to meet the highest aviation safety standards. The actuators and electronic units will be produced at Liebherr’s facilities in Lindenberg and Lindau, Germany.