Vertical Aerospace Nears Transition Flight Tests UK eVTOL manufacturer Vertical Aerospace recently concluded an important milestone in the development of the VX4 eVTOL. On September 9th, the company announced that it had concluded Phase 3 of rigourous testing. That is to say that it has concluded demonstrations of "stable and efficient flight on the wing". Phase 4, the last phase will put the program on course for type certification in 2028 by the UK and EASA regulatory bodies.
Vertical Aerospace ended Phase 3 on a high after testing that ran from May leaving from their test base site at the Cotswold Airport, UK. Of note, is that the prototype they were using for the tests was a full-scale VX4 and not a subscale version. It has repeatedly taken off, flew and touched down with lift generated by its wings. Some of the test flights ran distances of 217 nautical miles. The aircraft would have flown at a ceiling of 2,000 feet and topping-out at 120-knots. The flights have gathered more than 22 billion data points for Vertical's engineering team to pour over.
"Completing wingborne flight is a historic milestone for Vertical and the VX4," said company CEO Stuart Simpson. "Each phase strengthens confidence among regulators, partners, and investors that our aircraft will meet the highest standards of safety and performance. Now we enter the most exciting stage: transition testing, demonstrating the mode the VX4 will use in passenger service."
The company now has its sights set on the final phase as it charts its path towards certification. It is not coincidental that they made an appointment of former EASA executive director Patrick Ky to its board of directors. The 4-passenger VX4 is expected to be certified in 2028 if all goes according to plan from here. To demonstrate vertical take-off is one aspect, sustaining stable hover is another but being able to move the aircraft into forward horizontal flight from vertical take off has to be a smooth transition. For more information: Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. Unit 1, Camwal Court, Chapel Street Bristol, BS2 0UW www.vertical-aerospace.com ***
