Quantcast

Vertical Aerospace begins test flights for second VX4 eVTOL prototype

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Vertical Aerospace begins test flights for second VX4 eVTOL prototype
Policy
Webp 4icawwvtg7mupp051grumj0ndq6y
JSX Aircraft | Official Website

Vertical Aerospace has commenced test flights with its second full-scale prototype of the VX4 eVTOL aircraft. On July 26, the UK company reported that the aircraft executed a tethered flight at Kemble Airport in the west of England.

According to Vertical, more than 20,000 flight and system parameters were measured during the initial flight, verifying thrust, handling qualities, and system performance. The aircraft was piloted by the company’s chief test pilot Justin Paines.

The second VX4 prototype features a 20% greater power-to-weight ratio than the first prototype. This supports Vertical’s objective that production versions of the four-passenger aircraft will be able to cruise at 130 knots on flights of up to around 87 nautical miles. For this version, 60% of the technology and components have come from program partners including GKN Aerospace, Hanwha, Honeywell, Leonardo, Molicel, and Synesqo.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The latest VX4 propulsion system includes Vertical’s proprietary battery packs capable of delivering 1.4 megawatts of peak power. These were developed at the company’s Vertical Energy Centre in Bristol.

Flight testing began following the issuance of a permit to fly by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Once the tethered flight phase is complete, Vertical will progress to thrustborne flights where the VX4 will take off and land vertically and conduct low-speed flight maneuvers with lift generated by its eight propellers. Subsequently, subject to CAA approval for each phase, wingborne flights will be performed before achieving critical transitions between vertical and horizontal flight modes.

“The first tethered flight of our new VX4 prototype is the result of 14 months of hard work taking this advanced aircraft all the way from design through to development and now into the air,” said Vertical Aerospace’s CEO Stuart Simpson. “This moment is a testament to the skill and commitment of hundreds of talented colleagues in our business who have made our VX4 aircraft the best eVTOL out there.”

Vertical reports holding pre-orders for 1,500 aircraft valued at $6 billion—implying a unit price of $4 million. Prospective customers include Virgin Atlantic Airways, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., and helicopter operator Bristow Group Inc.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

IndiGo has launched a new service from Mumbai to Seychelles, marking the first Indian carrier to operate this route in two decades.

Apr 1, 2025

Delta Air Lines has made changes to its flight operations between Detroit and Los Angeles, removing the Airbus A350-900 from the route's schedule.

Apr 1, 2025

Allegiant Air has announced the appointment of Victor Cipolla as manager of Inflight Training Operations.

Mar 31, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the official launch of a global cabin crew training program by Ethiopian Aviation University.

Mar 31, 2025

Atlas Air has announced that certified flight instructors from the Atlas Cadet Academy have commenced hands-on professional development at the Atlas Training Center.

Mar 31, 2025

Hector Nazario, the husband of Kenia Nazario, who is employed at Flying Food Group (FFG), expressed concerns about the union Unite Here.

Mar 31, 2025