Vertical Aerospace, the British startup developing the VX-4 eVTOL, has completed the first tethered flight of the aircraft’s second prototype.
The low-altitude hover took place on July 25 at Cotswold Airport. The aircraft is expected to expand its flight envelope once the UK CAA, the United Kingdom’s civil aviation authority, gives its approval.
The second prototype was built to replace the original test aircraft, which crashed in August 2023 after a propeller failure.
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“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. 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,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace.
The second test aircraft also introduced new propellers and batteries. Vertical Aerospace says the next steps will be more propulsion flight tests, followed by vertical takeoffs and landings and low-speed flight maneuvers with propeller-generated lift.
Finally, conventional (CTOL) flights and transitions between vertical and horizontal modes will be performed.
A third eVTOL will be completed and entered the test program in the first quarter of 2025. Vertical Aerospace plans to put the VX-4 into service in late 2026.
