- First-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in
European open airspace
- Landmark flight follows approval from the UK Civil Aviation
Authority, an important step on its path toward certification and
commercial operation
- 30,000 in-flight parameters and data points measured, with the
aircraft flying as expected
- On track to complete piloted transition flight in 2H 2025
Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace
and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today
announced it has made European aviation history with the first-ever
piloted wingborne flight of a winged electric vertical take-off and
landing (eVTOL) aircraft in open airspace.
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The VX4 prototype soars across the UK
countryside from Cotswold Airport, following approval from the UK
Civil Aviation Authority to fly in open airspace.
The landmark flight of the VX4 prototype, piloted by Chief Test
Pilot Simon Davies, saw the aircraft take-off, fly and land like a
conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
Soaring across the UK countryside from Cotswold Airport, the VX4
prototype demonstrated controlled wingborne flight in open airspace
for the first time, marking a critical step toward commercial
deployment as part of Vertical’s Flightpath 2030 strategy.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the flight
through open airspace at Cotswold Airport, the UK’s largest private
airport, by extending Vertical’s Permit to Fly. This followed a
rigorous review of tens of thousands of pages of safety and
technical documentation.
Chief Test Pilot, Simon Davies, said: "Taking the
aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for
the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me. Our
performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft
took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and
preparation we've done.
There are aircraft which are safe and capable but not always
enjoyable to fly. The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute
pleasure. It is responsive, smooth, simple to operate and the sound
level from the propellers is quiet and pleasant in the cockpit. An
honour to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind
it.”
Vertical is currently the only company globally flying a piloted
winged eVTOL prototype that’s been developed under a Design
Organisation Approval (DOA) from the CAA – a DOA is required to
hold a Type Certificate, required for commercial passenger
operations. The CAA is working closely with the European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their concurrent validation and
certifying the VX4 to the highest safety standards required for
commercial use.
Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: "Achieving
piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of
the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey.
Operating under the UK’s rigorous regulatory framework means we
share the burden of safety with our regulator - every step must be
approved, and that’s by design. It amounts to a mini certification
of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type
certification.
Our decision to put a pilot into the VX4 early was deliberate -
real-world piloted flight delivers insights no simulation can. This
milestone proves the capability of the aircraft and the maturity of
our programme as we move toward commercial operations."
Advancing the UK’s world-class
aerospace sector
This achievement has also been supported by early UK government
investment through programmes including the Aerospace Technology
Institute and the Future Flight Challenge. These initiatives have
contributed to the development of Vertical’s technology and flight
test campaign, and form part of wider efforts to advance the UK’s
net zero and aerospace ambitions.
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan
Reynolds, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical and
for the UK’s world-class aerospace sector. Breakthroughs like this
show how government and business can work together to keep the UK
at the cutting edge of innovation. Our modern Industrial Strategy
will double down on this success by giving investors the confidence
they need to back UK advanced manufacturing for the long term,
bringing good, green jobs and growth across the UK as part of our
Plan for Change.”
What is the Significance of Wingborne
Flight?
In Phase 3 of testing – wingborne flight – the VX4 operates like
a conventional aircraft using lift generated by its wings, rather
than relying solely on rotor thrust. This low-power, quiet, and
range-efficient mode of flight is key to making electric air travel
practical, scalable, and economically viable.
Jim Currier, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace
Technologies, said: “This significant achievement underscores
the ability of our partnership to unlock new and innovative modes
of transport, and we are proud Honeywell Anthem avionics and flight
control computers and software could play a key role in supporting
such a defining moment for the industry.”
David Stepanek, EVP & CTO, Bristow Group, said: “The
VX4’s successful demonstration of wingborne flight marks a
significant step towards commercial readiness. As the global leader
in innovative and sustainable vertical lift, we look forward to
continuing to partner with Vertical to unleash the disruptive
advantages of this aircraft.”
Jill Blickstein, Vice President of Sustainability, at
American Airlines, said: "This milestone is a key step toward
safely scaling electric aviation, which we believe will play a key
role in the future of our industry. We’re proud of Vertical’s
progress toward sustainable travel.”
By achieving stable and controlled wingborne flight, Vertical
has taken a significant step toward the next major milestone: a
full piloted transition flight, expected in the second half of
2025. This will demonstrate the VX4’s ability to shift seamlessly
between vertical lift and forward cruise – the operating mode it
will use in passenger service.
During the wingborne flight phase, the VX4 will reach speeds of
up to 150 mph (120 knots) and altitudes close to 2,000 ft under
real-world conditions. Engineers captured more than 30,000
in-flight data parameters, confirming the aircraft performed
exceptionally across stability, control, and energy usage.
A Foundation Built on Rigorous
Testing
To prepare for piloted wingborne flights, Vertical completed
thousands of hours of lab, simulation, and high speed ground
testing, including:
- 7.2 million fatigue cycles on each propeller blade to simulate
lifespan loads over the flight test campaign
- 15.2 metre battery pack drop test, comparable to fuel-tank
testing in traditional rotorcraft
- Full-scale thermal runaway propagation test on a VX4 sub-pack,
indicating safe flight and landing is possible even in the event of
a battery fire
- Over 3,000 hours of component and integration testing on flight
control computers to ensure system reliability and performance
Notes to editors
Vertical’s piloted flight test programme explainer:
- Phase 1: Tethered: the VX4 prototype will perform stabilised
hover while loosely tethered to the ground. COMPLETE 12
September 2024
- Phase 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off and land
vertically and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift
generated by the propellers. COMPLETE 4 February 2025
- Phase 3: Wingborne: the VX4 prototype will take-off, fly and
land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
COMMENCED 22 May 2025
- Phase 4: Transition: the VX4 prototype will transition between
thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa. Expected
before YE 2025
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company
pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner
and quieter way to travel. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four
passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a
hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission
flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility
market.
Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies,
including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own
proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s
most advanced and safest eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers
across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan
Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are
expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered
in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK’s aerospace industry,
Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top tier
automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM
and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported
over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion
systems.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this release
that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, the
features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans
and objectives of management for future operations, including the
building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines
projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases,
selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of
the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant and our ability to
achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any
particular timeline or at all, the potential exercise of the
Tranche A Warrants following the satisfaction of the performance
conditions and the proceeds issued from such potential exercise, as
well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,”
“plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,”
“should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,”
“is/are likely to” and similar statements of a future or
forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements reflect
our current views with respect to future events and are not a
guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ
materially from the information contained in the forward-looking
statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without
limitation, our limited operating history without manufactured
non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order;
our potential inability to raise additional funds when we need or
want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and
cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise
significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by
PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going
concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in
the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to
obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation
within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our
aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential
defects; our history of losses and the expectation to incur
significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable
future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early
stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could
harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the
components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential
that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into
long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received
are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any
predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified
dates; any circumstances; any potential failure to effectively
manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior
management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously
identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over
financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could
adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in
us and the market price of our ordinary shares; as a foreign
private issuer we follow certain home country corporate governance
rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to
Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more
lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public
company; and the important factors discussed under the caption
“Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March
11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the
Company’s other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking
statements contained in this release speak only as of the date
hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this
release whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250527234746/en/
For more information: Justin Bates, Head of
Communications justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463
Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs
samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7816 459 904
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