Larry Page-Backed Electric Aircraft Startup Kittyhawk Shuts Down
Kittyhawk, the electric aviation company led by Sebastian Thrun and backed by Larry Page, is winding down its operations. The shutdown comes after the company discontinues its Flyer program and spins off its Cora project into a joint venture with Boeing.
Kittyhawk, the electric aviation startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page and led by Sebastian Thrun, is shutting down its operations. The company shares the news on social media, stating that it is winding down while still working out the details of what comes next. Efforts to reach Thrun or a company spokesperson for further comment remain unsuccessful.
Over the years, Kittyhawk operates largely in secret and achieves significant technical milestones, building 111 aircraft and completing over 25,000 successful flights. The company initially focuses on the Flyer, a single-seater ultralight electric vehicle, but shuts down that program in 2020 to focus on Heaviside, a more capable and quieter autonomous electric aircraft. Additionally, Kittyhawk spins off its two-person Cora flying taxi project in 2019 into a joint venture with Boeing, which later becomes Wisk.
With the Flyer discontinued and Cora spun off, Kittyhawk's primary focus remains entirely on the Heaviside program and a reported larger version of the aircraft. However, the startup faces increasing pressure as competitors like Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, and Lilium make significant strides in the electric vertical takeoff and landing market. Internal challenges reportedly plague the company as it attempts to navigate this highly competitive landscape.