Vertical Makes Piloted Wingborne eVTOL Aircraft Flight in UK Open Airspace | Aviation International News

Vertical Makes Piloted Wingborne eVTOL Flight in Open Airspace

VX4 prototype flew under an extended permit to fly from Cotswold Airport

Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft prototype — Vertical Aerospace completed a wingborne piloted flight with its VX4 eVTOL aircraft prototype in UK open airspace.

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

May 27, 2025

Vertical Aerospace has conducted its first piloted wingborne flight trials in open airspace with a prototype of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft. The company reported what it billed as a landmark flight on May 27, and said that it is on track to achieve a piloted transition flight during the second half of this year as it works towards type certification in 2028.

The flight from Vertical’s test base at Cotswold Airport in the southwest of England was approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which extended the company’s permit to fly to allow access to controlled airspace while not separated from other traffic. This approval required the completion of tens of thousands of pages of safety and technical documentation.

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