Overdue maiden sortie for latest prototype will accelerate flight-test campaign.
UK electric air taxi developer Vertical Aerospace has finally flown the third and final prototype of its VX4 aircraft as it looks to expand its flight-test campaign.
Taking place at the company’s flight-test centre at Kemble airfield in southwest England on 5 June, the sortie was flown by pilot Paul Stone.
In all, the flight lasted for just 1min 54s, says Vertical, with the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft hovering at around 5ft and performing some brief manoeuvres including lateral and longitudinal translations.
Vertical had been promising the milestone flight since late last year but had encountered difficulties, notably the poor weather in the UK last winter.
With the latest aircraft (G-EVTB) airborne, Vertical now has two piloted prototypes in flight test, an earlier uncrewed example (G-EVTL) having been written off in a 2023 mishap.
Once envelope expansion activities with the latest prototype are complete, it will be fitted with a hybrid-electric powertrain as part of the company’s development roadmap for applications requiring longer range.
Vertical is simultaneously pivoting towards development of the Valo eVTOL – the four-passenger aircraft it intends to bring to market.
A critical design review for the Valo is expected in the coming months, ahead of the first flight of that aircraft expected in 2027.
While clearly different aircraft, the overall architecture, systems and characteristics of the VX4 and Valo are “closely aligned”, derisking the certification process.
A total of seven pre-production aircraft will be used for the Valo’s certification campaign: five flight-test aircraft and two ground-test assets.
Vertical also intends to fly the VX4 at the forthcoming Farnborough air show.
The initial piloted VX4 (G-EVTA) continues its flight-test campaign, having achieved a two-way transition in April this year.
This story has been updated with additional information from Vertical Aerospace in the third paragraph.
The post Vertical flies final VX4 before pivot to Valo first appeared on FlightGlobal.