Vertical Aerospace has wrapped up wing-borne flight tests of its VX4 prototype and is now eyeing the critical step of transition flights later this year.
UK-based Vertical began the conventional take-offs and landings in May and has since accumulated 215nm (400km) in the configuration.
Vertical says during the trials the VX4 prototype was flown in both direct and computer-assisted modes by test pilots Simon Davies and Paul Stone and “performed as modelled in the simulator”.
Highlights included an airport-to-airport sortie in July when the electric vertical take-off and landing VX4 was showcased at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
Wing-borne flights are the third phase of the manufacturer’s four-stage test programme, with the transition between vertical and conventional modes marking the last, but hardest, step.
Vertical on 6 August said it aims to perform transition flights before the end of this year. However, before it can do so, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) must extend teh VX4’s current permit to fly.
“With the high-quality data we’ve gathered and the ability to test at both high and low speeds, we are in the best possible place to explore transition with our proven tools and flight-test team,” says Davies.
Vertical continues to target type certification in 2028, working concurrently with the CAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
