A Bristol aerospace company that is developing a ‘flying taxi’ has announced that its first flight has taken to 海角视频 skies.
Vertical Aerospace’s first 海角视频 VX4 flight is part of its full-scale demonstrator electric aircraft testing and part of its certification by the Civil Aviation Authority aircraft, taking off and flying from Cotswold Airport in Kemble and fully powered by electric battery packs.
Vertical Aerospace, which was set up by Ovo Energy founder Stephen Fitzpatrick in 2016, has been in the process of developing an all-electric ‘flying taxi’ for several years.
Vertical Aerospace announced this latest development on Twitter on Wednesday (July 19). The company tweeted: "Lift off! Our full-scale electric aircraft has successfully flown at Cotswold Airport, hitting 40kts in remotely-piloted thrustborne test flights. Electric flight is within reach."
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The aircraft lifted, hovered, flew and landed by the thrust of the aircraft’s propulsion system and was powered only by Vertical’s proprietary battery packs.
VX4 is different in that it takes off vertically like a helicopter so that it can be operated in city centres without a runway. Vertical Aerospace is planning further flight tests over the coming months with the model, eventually moving towards piloted flights.
Last year Vertical Aerospace and airline Virgin Atlantic were awarded a £9.5m grant by the Government to test two trial flights between Bristol Airport and a South West airfield in 2024.
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In 2020 the company unveiled its designs for what it said would be the world's first certified all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and in 2021 confirmed a merger with special purpose acquisition company Broadstone Acquisition Corp in a deal valuing the company at nearly $2bn (£1.4bn).
The business had also secured investment from Microsoft’s venture capital fund M12, American Airlines, Avolon, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce.
Lift off! Our full-scale electric aircraft has successfully flown at Cotswold Airport, hitting 40kts in remotely-piloted thrustborne test flights. Electric flight is within reach.
— Vertical Aerospace (@VerticalAero)
Vertical’s chief test pilot, Justin Paines, commented: “The aircraft was remarkably easy to fly. It was rock-solid in stability and provided precise control even in demanding flight conditions such as hovering close to the ground. The aircraft leapt into a stable hover at lower RPM than expected, taking advantage of the ground effect cushion. Battery temperatures and state-of-charge remained well within predictions for the duration of flights.”
The company is also building its second prototype aircraft which will feature even more advanced technology from its global suppliers, and is targeting a certified aircraft by the end of 2026.
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