Aircraft
Aviation's Electric Dreams Fast Approach Reality
Several electric aircraft developers and partners supporting them with new propulsion technology expect to see their wares in service within a few years.
Vertical Aerospace's eVTOL aircraft is one of several new electric aircraft set for commercial service this decade. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)
Vertical Aerospace's eVTOL aircraft is one of several new electric aircraft set for commercial service this decade. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)

When the last Farnborough International Airshow took place four years ago, the aviation industry focused more on the concept of a more-electric aircraft than the reality. At the 2022 event, for which environmental sustainability accounts for one of the major themes, electric aviation will play a far more prominent role as some of the most ambitious start-ups exhibit alongside established mainstream aerospace players.

One of the upstarts arguably ranks as the UK’s current strongest prospect in the fast-emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace (Stand 41000) is assembling the first full-scale prototype of its four-passenger VX4 eVTOL and aims to start test flights before the end of this year as it pushes ahead with its goal of achieving concurrent UK and EASA type certification in 2024.