VX4 Achieves Major Milestone With Launch of Phase 2 of Piloted Flight Testing
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] has achieved a significant milestone as its VX4 prototype begins Phase 2 of piloted flight testing, successfully completing untethered vertical take-off and landing. The prototype, powered by battery packs delivering up to 1.4 MW of peak power, has completed nearly 90 test points and measured 35,000 flight parameters.
Following the UK Civil Aviation Authority's expansion of Vertical's Permit to Fly, testing will progress to low-speed manoeuvres at the Cotswolds Airport Flight Test Centre. The company is developing an identical prototype to accelerate the testing program, which consists of four phases: tethered hover (completed), thrustborne flight (current), wingborne flight, and transition between flight modes.
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] ha raggiunto un traguardo significativo poiché il suo prototipo VX4 inizia la Fase 2 del collaudo di volo con pilota, completando con successo decollo e atterraggio verticale senza vincoli. Il prototipo, alimentato da pacchi batteria in grado di erogare fino a 1.4 MW di potenza di picco, ha completato quasi 90 punti di test e ha misurato 35.000 parametri di volo.
Dopo l'espansione del Permesso al Volo da parte dell'Autorità dell'Aviazione Civile del Regno Unito, il collaudo proseguirà con manovre a bassa velocità presso il Centro di Collaudo Volo dell'Aeroporto Cotswolds. L'azienda sta sviluppando un prototipo identico per accelerare il programma di test, che consiste di quattro fasi: hovering vincolato (completato), volo sostenuto (in corso), volo su ali e transizione tra le modalità di volo.
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] ha logrado un hito significativo, ya que su prototipo VX4 comienza la Fase 2 de pruebas de vuelo pilotadas, completando con éxito el despegue y aterrizaje vertical sin ataduras. El prototipo, impulsado por paquetes de baterías que entregan hasta 1.4 MW de potencia máxima, ha completado casi 90 puntos de prueba y ha medido 35,000 parámetros de vuelo.
Tras la expansión del Permiso para Volar de la Autoridad de Aviación Civil del Reino Unido, las pruebas avanzarán a maniobras a baja velocidad en el Centro de Pruebas de Vuelo del Aeropuerto de Cotswolds. La compañía está desarrollando un prototipo idéntico para acelerar el programa de pruebas, que consiste en cuatro fases: flotación atada (completada), vuelo sustentado (actual), vuelo en ala y transición entre modos de vuelo.
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL]는 VX4 프로토타입이 조종사 비행 시험의 2단계에 접어들면서 중대한 이정표를 달성하였으며, 성공적으로 비구속 수직 이착륙을 완료했습니다. 이 프로토타입은 최대 1.4 MW의 피크 전력을 제공하는 배터리 팩으로 구동되며, 거의 90가지 테스트 포인트를 완료하고 35,000개의 비행 매개변수를 측정했습니다.
영국 민간 항공국의 Vertical에 대한 비행 허가 확장에 따라, 테스트는 코츠월드 공항 비행 시험 센터에서 저속 기동으로 진행될 것입니다. 이 회사는 시험 프로그램을 가속화하기 위해 동일한 프로토타입을 개발하고 있으며, 시험 프로그램은 띠에 묶인 호버링(완료), 추진 비행(현재), 날개 비행, 비행 모드 간 전환으로 구성된 네 단계로 나누어집니다.
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] a atteint une étape importante, car son prototype VX4 commence la Phase 2 des essais de vol pilotés, ayant réussi un décollage et un atterrissage vertical sans assistance. Le prototype, propulsé par des batteries fournissant jusqu'à 1.4 MW de puissance de pointe, a complété près de 90 points de test et mesuré 35 000 paramètres de vol.
Suite à l'extension du Permis de Vol de Vertical par l'Autorité de l'aviation civile du Royaume-Uni, les essais passeront aux manœuvres à basse vitesse au Centre d'essai de vol de l'aéroport de Cotswolds. L'entreprise développe un prototype identique pour accélérer le programme de tests, qui se compose de quatre phases : vol en sustentation lié (terminé), vol en propulsion (en cours), vol en ailes et transition entre les modes de vol.
Vertical Aerospace [NYSE: EVTL] hat einen bedeutenden Meilenstein erreicht, da sein VX4-Prototyp mit Phase 2 der getesteten bemannten Flüge beginnt und erfolgreich einen ungebundenen vertikalen Start und Landung abgeschlossen hat. Der Prototyp, der mit Batteriepacks betrieben wird, die bis zu 1.4 MW Spitzenleistung liefern, hat fast 90 Testpunkte abgeschlossen und 35.000 Flugparameter gemessen.
Nach der Erweiterung der Flugerlaubnis von Vertical durch die britische Zivilluftfahrtbehörde werden die Tests mit langsamen Manövern am Flight Test Center des Cotswolds Flughafens fortgesetzt. Das Unternehmen entwickelt einen identischen Prototyp, um das Testprogramm zu beschleunigen, das aus vier Phasen besteht: gebundenes Schweben (abgeschlossen), Schubflug (aktuell), Flug mit Tragflächen und Übergang zwischen den Flugmodi.
- Successful completion of untethered vertical take-off and landing
- VX4 prototype exceeded hover performance expectations
- Extensive data collection with 90 test points and 35,000 flight parameters measured
- Received regulatory approval from CAA for Phase 2 testing
- Development of second identical prototype to accelerate testing program
- Multiple testing phases still pending completion before commercialization
- Significant regulatory hurdles remain before final certification
Insights
The VX4's successful transition to untethered piloted flight testing represents a significant technical milestone in eVTOL development. The aircraft's demonstration of 1.4 MW peak power and stable hover performance validates the core propulsion and control systems. Phase 2 testing focusing on low-speed maneuvers will provide critical data on the aircraft's behavior in real-world conditions.
The methodical approach to flight envelope expansion, moving from tethered to untethered testing, reflects industry best practices for experimental aircraft certification. The development of a second identical prototype will accelerate the testing program and reduce certification timeline risks. However, significant technical challenges remain before commercial certification, particularly in the critical Phase 3 and 4 transition testing.
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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’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,
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
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
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Justin Bates, Head of Communications
justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com
+44 7878 357 463
Source: Vertical Aerospace
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