FutureFlight
Vertical Aerospace Prepares To Expand eVTOL Aircraft Flight Testing
The company is currently employing ground power for tethered hover trials as it prepares to start using Rolls-Royce's new electric propulsion system in untethered flight tests.
Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL prototype in tethered flight testing at Kemble Airport in the UK.
Vertical Aerospace is conducting tethered flight tests with its VX4 eVTOL prototype at Kemble Airport in the UK. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)

Vertical Aerospace is gradually stepping up flight testing of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft prototype as it seeks to progress from tethered takeoffs to low-speed flight before making a full transition from hover to wing-borne operations. The UK company has not disclosed a detailed timeline for these steps toward type certification and service entry in 2025, but a letter to shareholders on November 9 provided details about the flight test program, which started with a first hover on September 24.

Having conducted the first tethered takeoffs inside a hangar, the Vertical team has since moved the aircraft outside at Kemble Airport in southwest England. The letter summarizing third-quarter financial results stated that 14 piloted test flights had been made since the company received its permit to fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.