Wisk’s Boeing injection makes it the autonomous plane frontrunner

Wisk’s Boeing injection makes it the autonomous plane frontrunner
Wisk's electric air taxi. (Image: supplied)
Peter Griffin
A few times a week, a deep slapping sound causes me to look up from my work to watch a helicopter swoop down over Wellington Harbour to land on the waterfront helipad.Why are helicopters so loud? Their spinning main rotor decreases air pressure above the blade and increases it below. This is ultimately what allows the helicopter to lift off the ground. But air flowing around the blade evens out the pressure and creates a vortex. When the air hits the next blade it creates sound vibrations, a sort of booming ‘slap’!If helicopters are...

More Opinion

Spark's struggles mirror NZ's pain
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Spark's struggles mirror NZ's pain

Ten years on from its creation, Spark seems to have lost its spark.

Carmageddon: to buy shares, or not to
Opinion

Simon Robertson: Carmageddon: to buy shares, or not to

A basic early investing rule: never own airline or car company shares.

Simon Robertson 14 Dec 2024
Red tape? More scissors, less string please
Opinion

Deb Te Kawa: Red tape? More scissors, less string please

We need a complete rethink of how we approach regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Deb Te Kawa 13 Dec 2024