Flying-taxi SPAC accused of stealing aircraft technology

Wisk said it began more than a decade ago developing eVTOL aircraft that could shift from rising like a helicopter to flying like a plane using only electric power and accused Archer of stealing its tech. — Wisk

Wisk Aero LLC, a maker of electric-powered aircraft designed for use as flying taxis, claims its technology was stolen by Archer Aviation Inc, a rival startup valued at US$3.8bil (RM15.68bil) in a blank-check deal earlier this year involving United Airlines Holdings Inc and investment banker Ken Moelis.

Wisk, a joint venture of Boeing Co and Google co-founder Larry Page’s Kitty Hawk Corp, said former employees downloaded thousands of files and secret designs before taking jobs at Archer, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in San Jose, California. The companies compete in the market for so-called electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs.