Reuters reports, “UK-based Vertical Aerospace has completed the first phase of piloted testing of a prototype of its air-taxi, VX4, it said on Thursday, sending the company’s shares up 3.9% in U.S. premarket trading. The VX4 has 1,500 pre-orders worth $6 billion from companies including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The phase one testing included multiple piloted tethered flights and ground runs. It completed 70 individual test points to validate its safety in the real-world flight scenarios.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Tag: VX4 eVTOLs
Vertical Aerospace Begins Ground Testing New Air Taxi Prototype
Flying Magazine reports, “U.K.-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Vertical Aerospace is back to testing aircraft. The manufacturer has begun ground testing a new, more advanced full-scale prototype of its flagship VX4 air taxi after an initial prototype was damaged during an uncrewed flight test last year.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Vertical Aerospace Pushes EVOTL Certification to Late 2026
Aviation International News reports that Vertical Aerospace “expects it will need at least an additional 12 months to certify its VX-4 eVTOL.” A letter to company shareholders said a review of the UK-based public company’s program timeline “has resulted in a decision by the management team to target certification by late 2026.” Vertical previously “indicated the four-passenger vehicle could be approved in 2025.” The letter cited ongoing air safety regulation work in the UK, Europe, the US, and Japan, with regulatory differences between the countries explaining the additional time required.
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Vertical Aerospace Test Flies VX4 Electric Air Taxi
Aviation Week reports that Vertical Aerospace “has conducted the first tethered hover flight of the full-scale demonstrator for its VX4 electric air taxi, the startup staking the claim to be the first British company in 20 years to begin flight tests of a new aircraft.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Vertical Aerospace Expects VX4 to be Certified Concurrently with UK, Europe
Aviation Week reports that Vertical Aerospace “expects to certificate its VX4 air taxi concurrently with the UK and Europe, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) agreeing to validate UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) type certification of the electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Vertical Aerospace Pushes Back VX4 Certification to 2025
Aviation Week reported that Vertical Aerospace “has pushed back certification and first deliveries of its VX4 air taxi to 2025, from 2024, as it prepares to begin flight tests of its full-scale demonstrator in summer 2022.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Vertical Aerospace Secures $100M In Funds for VX4 Development
Aviation Week reports that Vertical Aerospace “has secured a $100 million funding line to bolster its finances as the UK startup ramps up spending on development of its VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
American Airlines Reserves an Order of 50 Air Taxis from Vertical Aerospace
Reuters reported that American Airlines will be making “pre-delivery payments” for 50 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from British Vertical Aerospace. American made a $1 billion deal with Vertical last year, for up to 250 of the aircraft, which “can carry four passengers and a pilot” at up to 200 mph for over 100 miles. Last year, Vertical Aerospace announced orders from Virgin Atlantic as well.
Full Story (Reuters)
Video
Vertical Aerospace VA-X4 Animation
(Delta Charlie Aviation via YouTube)
Air Greenland Partners with Avolon to Acquire VX4 eVTOLs
Aviation Today reported that Avolon and Air Greenland “will form a Working Group to examine the potential of commercial zero-emission air travel in Greenland.” Air Greenland “has also committed to a purchase or lease of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Avolon; the eVTOLs will be manufactured by Vertical Aerospace, maker of the five-seater, zero-emission VX4 aircraft.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)
Bristow Doubles Pre-Orders of Vertical Aerospace’s VX-4
Flight Global reports, “Vertical Aerospace is to join forces with Bristow Group to establish what is effectively a wet-leasing operation focused on the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer’s VX4. An expansion of an existing ‘strategic partnership’ dating from 2021, the agreement also sees helicopter operator Bristow double its pre-orders and options for the VX-4, increasing both to as many as 50 units.”
Full Story (Flight Global)