After a few past wobbles, Vertical Aerospace has the feel of a company that is entering a new era of real significance backed up by an experienced, international team with a binding belief in its future success.<\/p>\n
In just the past few weeks, the UK-based electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer has announced new investment of up to $50 million in new committed funding from Mudrick Capital Management and celebrated further incredible flight tests at its base at Cotswold Airport (GBA)<\/p>\n
Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical Aerospace<\/a>, said in December 2024, that the new layer of funding set the company up for its \u201cbiggest year yet\u201d with \u201cpiloted testing progress and major technological developments all on the cards\u201d.<\/p>\n\n And then on January 24, 2025, there was even more good news for Vertical Aerospace after the eVTOL developer sold 15 million shares and landed further funding worth $90 million to fund its research and development expenses.<\/p>\n Vertical Aerospace does not aspire to be the first eVTOL certified by an aviation regulator, but its steady, dedicated and thoughtful approach is clearly starting to bear fruit with investors willing to back the project when other companies over the last few months appear to have fallen away.<\/p>\n Within the western world, the UK-based Vertical Aerospace is one of leading eVTOL developers, matched only by its US competitors Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation.<\/p>\n\n Other major achievements in 2024 included launching phase two VX4 piloted test flights followed by carrying out thrustborne flight maneuvers and once the Civil Aviation Authority<\/a> (CAA) expands its Permit to Fly, Vertical will move to Phase 3 \u2014 wingborne flight tests.<\/p>\n Backed by the UK government, partnered with global suppliers and now even a darling of the British media, the momentum behind Vertical Aerospace is growing stronger by the day.<\/p>\n So, when AeroTime was invited for a recent visit to Vertical Aerospace\u2019s testing hub outside Bristol there was no chance on Earth that the opportunity was going to be missed.<\/p>\n\n From the UK capital London, the flight test hub is just over an hour away by train followed by a short drive to Cotswold Airport (GBA) where hydrogen-power trailblazer ZeroAvia is also based.<\/p>\n If the Vertical Aerospace team were looking for aviation inspiration, they need not look too far with two retired Boeing 747s parked only 100 meters away from its hanger.<\/p>\n On arrival at Cotswold Airport, it was windy and cold but the sight of the VX4 parked up outside the hanger soon put a stop to any grumbles about the British weather.<\/p>\n At both the Dubai Airshow in November 2023 and Farnborough Airshow in July 2024, a series of real size aircraft mock-ups were on display by Archer Aviation, Wisk Aero and Lilium but seeing a real life operating eVTOL in person really struck home.<\/p>\n After a safety briefing inside one of the portacabins dotted around the site, Simon Davies, Chief Test Pilot and Peter Scheidler, Head of Flight Test, led the way to meet the VX4 close up.<\/p>\n You are immediately struck by the size of the aircraft, which is designed to carry a single pilot and four passengers at speeds of 150mph up to 150 kilometres, and just how robust the VX4 is.<\/p>\n Vertical Aerospace and its team of engineers and mechanics are not messing about, and there is a sense while in the presence of the aircraft that you are witnessing the development of something that is truly pioneering.<\/p>\n Former military fast-jet test pilot Davies explained that the VX4\u2019s production is a collaborative effort with Leonardo building the fuselage, Norco the wings and Honeywell the cockpit avionics.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have some really big hitters that give us the extra horsepower to make a professional aerospace aircraft. We have big aerospace names doing major structures and systems and then the two things we have kept in house are the propellers and the battery,\u201d said Davies.<\/p>\n Davies, who also has experience flying helicopters, describes flying VX4 as \u201ckind of strange\u201d with a similar sensation to piloting a helicopter due to the hover movement but at the same time feeling \u201ccompletely different\u201d.<\/p>\n According to Davies, the eVTOL is \u201cmuch, much easier than flying a helicopter\u201d thanks to reduction in operating complexities allowing the pilot to focus on \u201crates, speeds and accelerations\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stick and rudder skills are an order of magnitude less demanding than any traditional aircraft,\u201d said Davies.<\/p>\n The Vertical Aerospace team at the Cotswold Airport base is made up of many nationalities with around 50% British born and then a mix of Italians, Canadians, Americans and Brazilians.<\/p>\n Skills and experience have been built from previous jobs at places such as Airbus, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce and Embraer. Peter Scheidler was also previously part of the Leonardo AW609 program.<\/p>\n During a short tea break in the staff room, it was particularly interesting to chat informally with some of those helping to lead the next aviation revolution.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear a strong alliance had been built among all the employees and perhaps another pivotal reason why Vertical Aerospace are proving so successful in its flight test period.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, circumstances arose that did not make it possible to see the VX4 fly. However, the team would be performing some tests that involved firing up the aircraft motors.<\/p>\n Safely positioned away from VX4, and with Chief Test Pilot Davies at the cockpit controls, the aircraft would perform a high-powered run in which the eight propellers would be set in motion.<\/p>\n During development of the aircraft these types of tests were used to simulate various tasks of the VX4 to validate the prototype\u2019s safety in real-world scenarios.<\/p>\n After a series of warms ups, Davies finally demonstrated the awesome power that the aircraft wields with a high-powered tethered ground run, an exhilarating experience that will certainly not to be forgotten.<\/p>\n #VerticalAerospace<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eHu8VHHval<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Vertical](\"https:\/\/www.aerotime.aero\/images\/2025\/01\/Vertical-Aerospace-VX4-eVTOL-aircraft-front-1-1200x800.jpg\"\/ "\\"Vertical")
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