- Vertical’s VX4 prototype begins untethered, piloted
thrustborne testing following expansion of Permit to Fly from the
UK Civil Aviation Authority.
- Phase 2 of testing includes vertical take-off and landing
and low-speed flight manoeuvres.
- The VX4 prototype has completed nearly 90 test points,
measuring 35,000 flight and system parameters, producing several
thousand gigabytes of data.
Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace
and technology company pioneering zero-emissions aviation, has seen
its latest full scale VX4 prototype achieve piloted, untethered
vertical take-off and landing for the first time as Phase 2 of its
flight test programme begins.
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Vertical’s VX4 prototype begins
untethered, piloted thrustborne testing. (Photo: Business Wire)
The VX4 prototype, powered by industry-leading battery packs
delivering up to 1.4 MW of peak power, surpassed expectations in
hover performance, control, and stability. Testing will now
progress to low-speed manoeuvres using lift generated by the
propellers at its Flight Test Centre at Cotswolds Airport, UK.
Thrustborne flights are designed to assess the aircraft’s
stability, battery efficiency, control characteristics,
aerodynamics, structural and dynamic loads and performance across
different speeds, enabling further assessment of how the VX4
behaves under real-world flight conditions.
This marks an expansion of the VX4’s flight envelope beyond the
initial tethered hover condition in Phase 1, as the prototype
continues to operate under more demanding conditions, ensuring it
meets the most stringent safety and regulatory standards.
The second of four testing phases follows the UK Civil Aviation
Authority’s (CAA) expansion of Vertical’s Permit to Fly. To secure
this expansion, Vertical submitted extensive documentation
verifying the VX4 prototype’s safety under Phase 2 conditions. This
included systems and structural validations, Phase 1 outcomes,
flight test protocols, engineering specifications, and detailed
operational procedures.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “It's
great to see the VX4 throw off the tethers and move to the next
phase of our piloted test flight programme. We now enter a realm
that very few companies in the world have achieved. Our team is
thrilled with the significant strides we continue to make with the
VX4 prototype as we expand our learnings and take another step
towards connecting communities with faster, cleaner and safer
travel.”
Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, who flew the VX4
prototype, said: “The aircraft performed absolutely
brilliantly, and was really stable in the hover. The flight
controls felt good, and it’s great to have the tethers off.
Everything on the aircraft worked perfectly - no surprises, nice
and boring - a great test flight. Definitely my favourite and most
memorable flight in thousands of flight hours, but my job was
really easy - standing on the shoulders of giants! So proud of our
team.”
Vertical will now progress through Phase 2 while working with
the CAA to extend it’s Permit to Fly and move onto Phase 3 -
wingborne flight tests. This next stage will involve piloted
take-off, flight, and landing like a conventional aircraft using
wing-generated lift. The primary focus of this phase is expanding
the transition envelope as safely as possible - working down in
speed from high altitude rather than up in speed from low altitude,
which is much safer. Phase 4 will involve transitioning between
thrustborne and wingborne flight modes.
Vertical is currently developing an identical full-scale
prototype which will accelerate the VX4’s flight test programme and
demonstration capability. Once assembled, the company will take
flight test learnings from both prototypes into the design and
development of the certified VX4 model.
Notes to editors:
Piloted flight test programme explainer
- Phase 1: Tethered: the VX4 will perform stabilised hover while
loosely tethered to the ground. COMPLETE
- Phase 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 will take-off and land vertically
and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the
propellers. STARTED
- Phase 3: Wingborne: the VX4 will take-off, fly and land like a
conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
- Phase 4: Transition: The VX4 will transition between
thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa.
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 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. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre
of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by
Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe’s largest
independent energy retailer. 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 U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future
events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of
the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in
this press 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, including completion of the piloted test
programme phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the
commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory
certification of our aircraft product with any of our intended
regulators on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and
plans
to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the
differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations
surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of
operations and financial position and expected financial
performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and
profitability strategies, our plans to mitigate the risk that we
are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital
expenditures, as well as statements that include the words
“expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,”
“estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,”
“potential,” “continue,” “are likely
to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking
nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor
guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected, including, without limitation: our limited operating
history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed
eVTOL aircraft customer order; 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; our potential inability to produce, certify
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;
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 preorders received
are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any
pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain
specified dates; any circumstances; the inability for our aircraft
to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects;
any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our
inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly
skilled personnel, our ability 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; and the other important factors discussed under the
caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 14,
2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other
filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly
undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim
any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any
forward-looking statements contained in this press 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/20241112194338/en/
Justin Bates, Head of Communications
justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463
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