Vertical Aerospace performs piloted thrustborne flight test in full-scale eVTOL

UK-based electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace has become only the second company in the world to perform a piloted thrustborne flight test in a full-scale vectored thrust aircraft. 

The full-scale eVTOL aircraft, known as VX4, took off on January 7, 2024, with pilot Simon Davies at the controls, at the Vertical Aerospace test center at Cotswold Airport (GBA). 

Chief test pilot Davies transitioned from piloted thrustborne hover to piloted thrustborne low-speed flight maneuvers and included roll, yaw and spot turn exercises. 

The significant milestone came after Vertical Aerospace received approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expand its Permit to Fly. 

Vertical AerospaceStuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “Starting the year with this milestone is a fantastic achievement and testament to the dedication of our team and partners. Becoming one of only two companies globally to conduct piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres in a full-scale vectored thrust eVTOL underscores the progress we’re making toward our Flightpath 2030 strategy and our vision to transform the way the world moves.” 

The success of this latest test means that Vertical’s VX4 aircraft has now progressed from piloted hover flight to piloted, low-speed maneuvers using lift generated by the propellers 

According to Vertical Aerospace, thrustborne flights are designed to assess the aircraft’s “stability, battery efficiency, control characteristics, aerodynamics, structural and dynamic loads and performance across different speeds”. 

This enables the Vertical Aerospace team to assess how the VX4 behaves under real-world flight conditions. 

Vertical Aerospace will continue to work with the CAA to expand its Permit to Fly, clearing the path for Phase 3 — wingborne flight tests. 

A previous full-scale prototype completed a remote thrustborne flight test campaign in July 2023.  

In December 2023, Vertical Aerospace confirmed that Mudrick Capital Management had entered into an investment agreement to commit up to $50 million of new funding into the project, converting $130 million debt into equity at fixed conversion price. 

Thus far, the only other eVTOL aircraft developer to have achieved piloted thrustborne flight tests is the US firm Joby Aviation.  

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