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Posted on the 28th May 2025 in PHTM News
UK FLYING TAXI MAKES HISTORY WITH CROSS COUNTRY ELECTRIC FLIGHT
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based pioneer in electric flying taxis, has made European aviation history with the successful piloted "wingborne" flight of its VX4 prototype across the UK countryside.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft soared over the Cotswolds last week before performing a conventional landing at a nearby airport, marking a significant stride towards the commercial deployment of this sustainable air travel technology.
The VX4 is designed to revolutionise urban travel, with Vertical Aerospace claiming it will be capable of transporting passengers from Battersea to Heathrow in just 12 minutes.
The company aims for initial flights carrying four passengers up to 100 miles by 2028.
Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, lauded the achievement. "This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical and for the UK's world-class aerospace sector," he stated, adding: "Breakthroughs like this show how government and business can work together to keep the UK at the cutting edge of innovation."
The landmark flight, approved by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after extensive safety documentation review, follows Vertical's successful piloted hover flight earlier this year.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, underscored the importance of this step in their certification journey. "Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey," Simpson said.
He highlighted the stringent regulatory framework: "Operating under the UK's rigorous regulatory framework means we share the burden of safety with our regulator – every step must be approved, and that's by design. It amounts to a mini certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification."
Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, who helmed the VX4, expressed his satisfaction with the aircraft's performance. "The firm's performance predictions had been absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we've done," Davies remarked.
He concluded: "The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure."
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