Milestone Follows CAA Approval In UK

Vertical Aerospace announced that its VX4 eVTOL performed its first successful winged flight with a pilot at the controls, marking the first piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in open European airspace.

The flight, piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, came on the heels of approval by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, or CAA. The aircraft took off from and landed on a runway at Cotswold Airport like a conventional aircraft with all lift generated by the wing. It performed as expected, demonstrating controlled flight. In addition, 30,000 in-flight data points and parameters were collected.

With this flight, Vertical is poised to complete piloted transition flight later this year.

Test Pilot 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 honor to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind it.”

Stuart Simpson, CEO of 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.”

FMI:  vertical-aerospace.com/