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Vertical Aerospace Strengthens Test Pilot Team With Appointment of Paul Stone

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Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] has appointed Paul Stone as Test Pilot, making it one of the few eVTOL companies globally with multiple test pilots experienced in full-scale eVTOL aircraft. Stone brings over 28 years of flight test experience and 4,800 flight hours across 200+ aircraft types.

Stone's background includes serving as Chief Test Pilot at Volocopter, 20 years in the Royal Navy, and extensive experience with VTOL systems. He joins Vertical's existing test team, including Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies and test pilot Tim Eldridge.

The appointment comes as Vertical advances its piloted flight test program, having completed piloted thrustborne testing for its VX4 prototype. The company is working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to expand its flight envelope toward wingborne flight. Additionally, Vertical has begun assembly of a third full-scale VX4 prototype at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre.

Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] ha nominato Paul Stone come Pilota di Test, rendendola una delle poche aziende eVTOL a livello globale con più piloti di test esperti in aerei eVTOL a grandezza naturale. Stone porta con sé oltre 28 anni di esperienza nei test di volo e 4.800 ore di volo su oltre 200 tipi di aeromobili.

Il background di Stone include il ruolo di Pilota di Test Capo presso Volocopter, 20 anni nella Royal Navy e una vasta esperienza con i sistemi VTOL. Si unisce al team di test esistente di Vertical, che include il Pilota di Test Capo Simon Davies e il pilota di test Tim Eldridge.

Questa nomina arriva mentre Vertical avanza nel suo programma di test di volo pilotato, avendo completato i test di spinta pilotati per il suo prototipo VX4. L'azienda sta collaborando con l'Autorità per l'Aviazione Civile del Regno Unito per espandere il proprio campo di volo verso il volo a ala. Inoltre, Vertical ha iniziato l'assemblaggio di un terzo prototipo VX4 a grandezza naturale presso il Global Technology Centre di GKN Aerospace.

Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] ha nombrado a Paul Stone como Piloto de Pruebas, convirtiéndose en una de las pocas empresas de eVTOL a nivel mundial con múltiples pilotos de pruebas experimentados en aeronaves eVTOL a gran escala. Stone aporta más de 28 años de experiencia en pruebas de vuelo y 4,800 horas de vuelo en más de 200 tipos de aeronaves.

El historial de Stone incluye haber sido Piloto de Pruebas Jefe en Volocopter, 20 años en la Royal Navy y una amplia experiencia con sistemas VTOL. Se une al equipo de pruebas existente de Vertical, que incluye al Piloto de Pruebas Jefe Simon Davies y al piloto de pruebas Tim Eldridge.

Este nombramiento se produce mientras Vertical avanza en su programa de pruebas de vuelo pilotado, habiendo completado las pruebas de empuje pilotadas para su prototipo VX4. La empresa está trabajando con la Autoridad de Aviación Civil del Reino Unido para expandir su envoltura de vuelo hacia el vuelo con ala. Además, Vertical ha comenzado el ensamblaje de un tercer prototipo VX4 a gran escala en el Centro de Tecnología Global de GKN Aerospace.

Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL]는 Paul Stone을 시험 비행사로 임명하여, 전 세계적으로 여러 명의 시험 비행사가 있는 eVTOL 회사 중 하나가 되었습니다. Stone은 28년 이상의 비행 시험 경험과 200종 이상의 항공기에서 4,800시간의 비행 시간을 보유하고 있습니다.

Stone의 경력에는 Volocopter의 수석 시험 비행사로 근무한 경력과 20년의 왕립 해군 경력이 포함되며, VTOL 시스템에 대한 광범위한 경험이 있습니다. 그는 Vertical의 기존 시험 팀에 합류하며, 이 팀에는 수석 시험 비행사 Simon Davies와 시험 비행사 Tim Eldridge가 포함됩니다.

이번 임명은 Vertical이 조종사 비행 시험 프로그램을 발전시키면서 이루어졌으며, VX4 프로토타입에 대한 조종사 추진 시험을 완료했습니다. 이 회사는 영국 민간 항공청과 협력하여 비행 범위를 날개 비행으로 확장하고 있습니다. 또한, Vertical은 GKN Aerospace의 글로벌 기술 센터에서 세 번째 전체 크기 VX4 프로토타입 조립을 시작했습니다.

Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] a nommé Paul Stone en tant que Pilote d'Essai, devenant ainsi l'une des rares entreprises d'eVTOL au monde à disposer de plusieurs pilotes d'essai expérimentés dans des aéronefs eVTOL à grande échelle. Stone apporte plus de 28 ans d'expérience en essais de vol et 4 800 heures de vol sur plus de 200 types d'aéronefs.

Le parcours de Stone inclut un poste de Pilote d'Essai Principal chez Volocopter, 20 ans dans la Royal Navy et une vaste expérience des systèmes VTOL. Il rejoint l'équipe d'essai existante de Vertical, qui comprend le Pilote d'Essai Principal Simon Davies et le pilote d'essai Tim Eldridge.

Cette nomination intervient alors que Vertical fait progresser son programme d'essai de vol piloté, ayant complété les tests de poussée pilotés pour son prototypage VX4. L'entreprise travaille avec l'Autorité de l'Aviation Civile du Royaume-Uni pour élargir son enveloppe de vol vers le vol à voilure. De plus, Vertical a commencé l'assemblage d'un troisième prototype VX4 à grande échelle au Centre de Technologie Mondial de GKN Aerospace.

Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] hat Paul Stone zum Testpiloten ernannt und wird damit zu einem der wenigen eVTOL-Unternehmen weltweit, die über mehrere Testpiloten mit Erfahrung in vollwertigen eVTOL-Flugzeugen verfügen. Stone bringt über 28 Jahre Erfahrung in Flugtests und 4.800 Flugstunden in über 200 Flugzeugtypen mit.

Stones Hintergrund umfasst die Tätigkeit als Chef-Testpilot bei Volocopter, 20 Jahre in der Royal Navy und umfangreiche Erfahrung mit VTOL-Systemen. Er verstärkt das bestehende Testteam von Vertical, zu dem auch Chef-Testpilot Simon Davies und Testpilot Tim Eldridge gehören.

Die Ernennung erfolgt, während Vertical sein Programm für piloted Flugtests vorantreibt und die piloted Schubtests für seinen VX4-Prototyp abgeschlossen hat. Das Unternehmen arbeitet mit der britischen Zivilluftfahrtbehörde zusammen, um sein Flugprofil in Richtung Flügelbetrieb zu erweitern. Darüber hinaus hat Vertical mit der Montage eines dritten vollwertigen VX4-Prototyps im Global Technology Centre von GKN Aerospace begonnen.

Positive
  • Strengthened test pilot team with highly experienced Paul Stone (28 years, 4,800 flight hours)
  • Successfully completed piloted thrustborne testing of VX4 prototype
  • Expanding testing capabilities with third full-scale prototype under assembly
  • Among few eVTOL companies with multiple experienced full-scale eVTOL test pilots
Negative
  • Still awaiting wingborne flight testing approval from UK CAA
  • Former Volocopter Chief Test Pilot, with over 28 years flight test experience, joins Vertical
  • Vertical now among the few eVTOL companies in the world with multiple test pilots to have flown full-scale eVTOLs
  • His appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Vertical advances its piloted flight test programme and begins assembly of a third full-scale prototype to increase flight test capabilities

LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, is today announcing the appointment of Paul Stone as a Test Pilot. His arrival makes Vertical one of the very few eVTOL companies in the world to have two test pilots with experience flying full-scale, piloted eVTOL aircraft.

Former Volocopter Chief Test Pilot, Paul Stone, with over 28 years flight test experience, joins Vertical Aerospace (Photo: Business Wire)

Former Volocopter Chief Test Pilot, Paul Stone, with over 28 years flight test experience, joins Vertical Aerospace (Photo: Business Wire)

With over 28 years of experience in experimental, development, certification, and production test flying, including 20 years in the Royal Navy, Paul has accumulated over 4,800 flight hours across more than 200 aircraft types. Most recently he was Chief Test Pilot at Volocopter, flying both their concept demonstrator and full-scale eVTOL Volocity prototype for the last 3 years.

He joins Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies and test pilot Tim Eldridge.

Paul’s expertise includes over 15 years of test experience on all marks of Harrier along with pioneering research on Short/Vertical Take-Off and Landing (SVTOL/VTOL) digital flight control systems, contributing to the Vectored-thrust Aircraft Advanced Control (VAAC) Harrier and the Boeing X-32 Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) concept demonstrator. He has also worked on control law development for NASA and Boeing, refining the software that governs aircraft stability and manoeuvrability.

Paul also has extensive private defence sector flight test experience, including at BAE Systems where he served as Typhoon Future Capability Director, Director of Flight Operations, and Chief Test Pilot for Combat Aircraft, leading critical flight test programmes.

Paul Stone, Vertical Test Pilot, said: “I have been passionate about testing cutting-edge aircraft throughout my career, and Vertical is at the leading edge of electric aviation. With the VX4’s progress and the team's world-class expertise, I’m excited to be part of the journey to certify and commercialise the VX4.”

Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical Aerospace, said: “Paul joining Vertical underscores the incredible progress we’re making with our piloted flight test programme and sector leading aircraft. A test team with two eVTOL experienced pilots puts us in an elite group worldwide. I look forward to seeing Paul take to the skies in our full-scale prototype as we progress our piloted test programme, which sets our progress apart in the sector.”

Vertical recently completed piloted thrustborne testing for its VX4 prototype and continues to work with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expand its flight envelope ahead of wingborne flight – which it believes would be a world-first with this aircraft type.

Paul’s appointment follows Vertical’s recent FY24 earnings announcement, which included that the assembly of the third full-scale VX4 prototype has begun at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre.

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. 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 Mr. Stone’s impact on Vertical and its flight test programme, 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 our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, 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, 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.

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 +447816 459 904

Source: Vertical Aerospace

FAQ

What experience does Paul Stone bring to Vertical Aerospace (EVTL)?

Paul Stone brings 28 years of flight test experience, 4,800 flight hours across 200+ aircraft types, and was formerly Volocopter's Chief Test Pilot with direct eVTOL testing experience.

What is the current status of EVTL's VX4 flight testing program?

EVTL has completed piloted thrustborne testing of the VX4 prototype and is working with the UK CAA to expand its flight envelope toward wingborne flight.

How many full-scale VX4 prototypes is EVTL developing?

EVTL has begun assembly of its third full-scale VX4 prototype at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre.

What distinguishes EVTL from other eVTOL companies in terms of test pilots?

EVTL is among the few eVTOL companies worldwide with two test pilots who have experience flying full-scale, piloted eVTOL aircraft.
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