Aciturri Aerostructures to Build the Airframe for Vertical’s VX4

Vertical Aerospace recently entered a new partnership, passing down the responsibility of building the VX4 eVTOL’s pre-production airframe to Aciturri Aerostructures. The team will begin with a pre-production version that, if all goes to plan, will put the VX4 on track for certification and scalable production.

"As we accelerate toward commercialization, the VX4 demands an airframe built specifically for the unique challenges of eVTOL and the highest levels of safety certification,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “As a leading, global supplier, Aciturri brings the world-class capability, agility, and technical excellence we need to turn great designs into great aircraft."

Aciturri, a well-established commercial aviation supplier, will manufacture everything from the wing to the fuselage to the pylons to the empennage. The company will also provide engineering support for key structural components and help streamline the manufacturing process so the VX4 can be produced efficiently and at scale—assuming it passes certification.

Vertical is positioning this move as a milestone in its “Flightpath 2030” plan, which focuses on early supplier partnerships and parts procurement to get ahead of the curve as the aircraft moves closer to production. It’s not the first major collaboration for the VX4; Vertical recently expanded its agreement with Honeywell for flight control and management systems, and the aircraft has already completed some initial airport-to-airport flight testing.

The VX4 is a four-passenger, piloted electric aircraft designed for zero-emission operation with vertical takeoff and landing capability. A hybrid-electric version is also in development to offer greater range and flexibility. The goal is to meet a variety of use cases in the advanced air mobility market—from urban transport to regional hops.

Aciturri, meanwhile, brings nearly five decades of aerospace experience and currently supplies components for Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer programs, among others. The company has also worked on airframes for other eVTOL projects, including Eve and Lilium, giving it a relevant foundation in the growing electric aircraft sector.

“Aciturri and Vertical share a strong commitment to advancing the future of air mobility by redefining urban transport with sustainable electric flight,” Aciturri CEO Manuel Gonzalez Relano added.

FMI: www.aciturri.com