FutureFlight
Vertical Aerospace Starts Untethered Flight Testing With VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
The UK company is working to complete initial type certification of the four-passenger vehicle by the end of 2026.
Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL prototype in untethered flight testing at Kemble Airport in the UK.
Vertical Aerospace is now flight testing the first full-scale prototype of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft at Cotswold Airport in the UK. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)

Vertical Aerospace has started untethered flight testing with the first full-scale prototype of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft. On July 19, the UK company released images and video showing the aircraft in flight at Cotswold Airport and confirmed that flight testing has been progressing for several weeks.

During what appear to be low-altitude flights, the VX4 has achieved speeds of 40 knots. All the remotely piloted flights have been in hover-mode with some forward, with the company reporting early performance as surpassed expectations and insights that will help it improve performance for the four-passenger vehicle.