Joby Aviation

Joby S4

VS
Wisk Aero

Wisk Gen 6

Joby S4 vs Wisk Gen 6: Complete eVTOL Comparison 2026

Compare Aircraft / Joby S4 vs Wisk Gen 6

Quick Verdict

Joby S4 and Wisk Gen 6 represent two opposite bets on how the US air taxi market will scale: pilot-first vs autonomy-first. Joby is launching commercial revenue service in Dubai Q2 2026 with a piloted, FAA-certified four-seat tilt-rotor optimized for 150-mile range and 200 mph cruise. Wisk — wholly owned by Boeing — has skipped the pilot entirely. Its Gen 6 has no pilot seat and no manual controls, targeting drastically lower per-seat costs once the FAA certifies a brand-new autonomous passenger framework. That regulatory path is the gating factor: industry consensus puts Wisk's commercial launch in the 2028–2030 window, two to four years behind Joby. Near-term, Joby wins on availability and performance; long-term, if Wisk's autonomous certification works, the entire US eVTOL economics restructures.

Side-by-Side Specifications

Company
Joby S4
Joby Aviation
Wisk Gen 6
Wisk Aero
Configuration
Joby S4
Tilt-Rotor
Wisk Gen 6
Lift+Cruise (Autonomous)
Passengers
Joby S4
4 + pilot
Wisk Gen 6
4 (no pilot)
Max Speed
Joby S4
200 mph
Wisk Gen 6
138 mph
Range
Joby S4
150 miles
Wisk Gen 6
90 miles
Cruise Altitude
Joby S4
1,500–4,000 ft
Wisk Gen 6
2,500–4,000 ft
Noise Level
Joby S4
~45 dB at 500m
Wisk Gen 6
~50 dB at 500m
Certification
Joby S4
FAA certification ~85% complete
Wisk Gen 6
FAA pre-application; new autonomous framework
Expected Service
Joby S4
Dubai Q2 2026 (Launching Now)
Wisk Gen 6
2028–2030 target
Ticket Price
Joby S4
$50–$200
Wisk Gen 6
$25–$100 (projected)
Key Partners
Joby S4
Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Dubai RTA
Wisk Gen 6
Boeing (parent), NASA, Long Beach test ops

Where Each Excels

Joby S4

Available years sooner
Joby launches commercial Dubai service in Q2 2026. Wisk's autonomous certification path puts revenue service in the 2028–2030 window — a 2 to 4 year head start.
Faster and longer range
200 mph and 150 miles vs Wisk's 138 mph and ~90 miles. Joby covers more ground per flight, opening up regional and long airport-transfer routes Wisk cannot serve.
Established certification path
Joby is now in FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA / Stage 4). The piloted framework already exists. Wisk needs the FAA to author a brand-new passenger-autonomy framework before certification can finish.
Pilot-aboard reassurance
Many first-time eVTOL passengers prefer a trained pilot in the cockpit. That comfort matters in early market adoption when public trust in autonomous flight is still forming.

Wisk Gen 6

Boeing balance sheet
Wisk is wholly owned by Boeing. That removes the dilutive funding pressure every other eVTOL company faces during multi-year certification timelines.
No pilot — structurally lower costs
Removing the pilot eliminates the largest variable operating cost and removes the eVTOL pilot shortage as a scaling constraint. Per-seat economics could be roughly half of a piloted Joby.
4-passenger autonomous capacity
Wisk Gen 6 carries 4 passengers with no pilot — meaning every seat is a revenue seat. Joby's 4 + 1 pilot configuration carries the same 4 paying passengers but with the pilot cost.
Lower projected ticket prices
Projected $25–$100 per trip vs Joby's $50–$200. If the autonomous framework is approved, Wisk could become the price leader for short urban routes.

Best For Each Use Case

Earliest commercial flight (2026)
Joby S4
Joby is in revenue service in Dubai Q2 2026. Wisk's autonomous framework will not certify a passenger aircraft on that timeline.
Lowest per-seat cost at scale (2028+)
Wisk Gen 6
If autonomous certification clears, Wisk's pilot-free economics could undercut Joby on price for short urban hops.
Regional routes (80–150 mi)
Joby S4
Joby's 150-mile range and 200 mph cruise comfortably handle regional pairs. Wisk's ~90-mile range tops out at urban airport-transfer distances.
Dense urban shuttles (5–20 mi)
Wisk Gen 6
If certified, Wisk's lower operating cost plus 4 revenue seats per flight is the better economic fit for high-frequency short routes.

About the Manufacturers

Joby Aviation

AircraftJoby S4
ConfigurationTilt-Rotor
StatusFAA certification ~85% complete
PartnersToyota, Delta Air Lines, Dubai RTA
Learn more about Joby Aviation

Wisk Aero

AircraftWisk Gen 6
ConfigurationLift+Cruise (Autonomous)
StatusFAA pre-application; new autonomous framework
PartnersBoeing (parent), NASA, Long Beach test ops
Learn more about Wisk Aero

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Wisk so far behind Joby on certification?
Wisk is not behind on engineering — it is waiting on a regulatory framework that does not yet exist. The FAA has never type-certified a passenger-carrying autonomous aircraft. Wisk's certification path requires the FAA to author and approve a brand-new framework around remote supervision, ground-based safety pilots, and contingency authority. Joby is using the existing piloted framework, which is why it is reaching commercial service first.
Will Wisk really be cheaper than Joby?
On paper, yes — and by a meaningful margin. Removing the pilot eliminates pilot salary, training, and scheduling overhead, plus removes the eVTOL pilot shortage as a constraint on scaling fleets. Wisk's 4 passengers are all revenue seats, while Joby's 4-passenger cabin shares cost with a pilot seat. Projected pricing is roughly half of Joby for similar trip lengths once autonomous certification is in place.
Is Wisk Gen 6 fully autonomous or remote-piloted?
Wisk Gen 6 is designed for autonomous operation with ground-based supervision. There is no pilot seat and no manual controls onboard. A multi-vehicle supervisor on the ground monitors flights and can intervene if needed, but the aircraft handles routine flight operations autonomously. This is structurally different from a remote-piloted drone where a pilot flies each aircraft individually.
Should I wait for Wisk or book Joby?
If you want to fly an eVTOL in the next 12–18 months, book Joby — it is the only one operating commercially in 2026. If you want the cheapest possible per-seat price and you live in a city Wisk plans to serve in 2028–2030, Wisk may eventually offer better economics. They are not really competing for the same passenger today.

Related Reading

Blog post
Wisk Aero Gen 6 Autonomous eVTOL: Boeing's Self-Flying Air Taxi Bet
Blog post
Wisk Gen 6 Autonomous Transition Flight Progress
Blog post
Joby FAA Stage 4 TIA — Final Certification Phase

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