Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company pioneering zero-emissions aviation, has announced the start of testing on its most advanced eVTOL aircraft, unveiled last week. Initial powered ground tests, including propeller balancing, have been successfully completed. These tests measure the weight distribution of each propeller blade to ensure minimal vibrations for smooth, stable flight.
In the coming days, Vertical Aerospace will conduct powered propulsion system testing of its advanced powertrain, featuring proprietary battery packs capable of producing 1.4 MW of peak power. These batteries, designed and built to certification safety standards at the Vertical Energy Centre, will undergo various power level tests while the aircraft is securely anchored. This will measure thrust output, system integration, and structural integrity, ensuring the VX4 meets the highest operational safety standards necessary for piloted flights.
Following these tests, the company will proceed to the “wheels up” phase with tethered flight tests, leading to low-speed untethered flights, pending the issuance of a Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical, stated, “These tests are a crucial step forward in our mission to certify the VX4 and make a cleaner, quieter, and safer way of air mobility a reality. Every day, we see amazing progress from the team at our Flight Test Centre, with each test providing valuable insights to help shape the next. We continue to work alongside our regulator to develop the safest and most advanced eVTOL aircraft in the world.”
The next-generation VX4 boasts a 20% increase in the power-to-weight ratio compared to the previous prototype, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 150 mph. It has been designed and built with the collaboration of global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Hanwha, Molicel, Leonardo, and Syensqo. The VX4 features Vertical’s next-generation propellers and new proprietary battery technology, developed at the state-of-the-art Vertical Energy Centre near Bristol, the UK’s most advanced aerospace battery facility.
Notes to Editor
Piloted Flight Test Program Explainer:
- Tethered: The VX4 will perform stabilized hover while loosely tethered to the ground.
- Untethered: The VX4 will hover without a tether.
- Thrustbourne: The VX4 will take off and land vertically and conduct low-speed flight maneuvers with lift generated by the propellers.
- Wingbourne: The VX4 will take off, fly, and land like a conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
- Transition: The VX4 will transition between thrustbourne and wingbourne flight, and vice versa.
