Piloted Conventional Takeoff And Landing Tests Complete

Vertical Aerospace, developer of electric aircraft, announced it has successfully completed Phase 3 testing of its VX4 prototype with piloted wingborne flights including conventional takeoffs and landings.

Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies and Test Pilot Paul Stone conducted the wingborne phase of testing the full scale VX4, which included switching between manual and computer assisted flight control modes. The real-life VX4 performed as modelled in the simulator, thereby validating both the design and its ease of handling.

Vertical has worked closely with the UK CAA or Civil Aviation Authority, which is also collaborating with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA for their concurrent validation and certification of the VX4. This collaboration resulted in Vertical securing approvals for flight testing in open airspace by extending its Permit to Fly after a thorough review of safety and technical documentation.

Since May 2025, the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in Europe, Vertical has accomplished several key goals:

• Piloted flight tests covering 250 mile / 400 km
• Attained a top speed of 120 kts / 222 km/h and an altitude of 2,000 ft
• Gathered more than 22 billion data points validating aerodynamic models, acoustic levels, system reliability, and performance

Vertical now continues on to the final stage of testing that involves transition. This will confirm the VX4’s ability to seamlessly convert from vertical lift for takeoff to wingborne flight, and then back to vertical lift for landing. This is a fundamental capability of a tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft that determines its ability to take off and land in a small space, and will be the operating mode of the aircraft in commercial passenger service.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace said, “Completing wingborne flight is a historic milestone for Vertical and the VX4. 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.”

Chief Test Pilot Davies said, “Paul Stone and I have had the privilege of flying this machine through its wingborne test phase. It's been incredibly rewarding, with the aircraft performing just like the simulator during our first flights in open air space. With the high-quality data we've gathered and the ability to test at both high and low speeds, we are in the best possible place to explore transition with our proven tools and flight test team."

Continuing to work  concurrently with CAA and EASA, Vertical is targeting type certification in 2028.

FMI:  vertical-aerospace.com/