Vertical flies piloted tethered test with new VX4 prototype

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Vertical test

Vertical Aerospace has flown its first tethered piloted flight in its new VX4 prototype aircraft.

The flight test took place after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had issued Vertical with a Permit to Fly for its prototype. The eVTOL developer has to submit documentation to the CAA to move through each flight phase. 

The VX4 performed the piloted flight – at 17:45 on 25th July – while “loosely” tethered to the ground, during which the Vertical team measured over 20,000 parameters to verify various performance variables including thrust and handling quality. The flight also makes Vertical’s chief test pilot Justin Paines the only pilot to have flown two different eVTOLs, according to the firm.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “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 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.”

Following initial tethered flights, and once it has received permission from the CAA to expand the flight envelope, the VX4 will enter the next phase of testing which will start with further thrustborne flight testing. This will see the VX4 take-off and land vertically and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the propellers.

Wingborne or conventional flight (CTOL) and the final critical test stage of piloted transition flight will follow, only once the CAA’s approval has been granted. 

In advance of the first tethered flight, Vertical said the VX4 has successfully completed extensive ground testing, including powered propulsion testing of its advanced powertrain.

Vertical revealed its latest prototype earlier this month. The new aircraft offers a 20% increase in the power to weight ratio, enabling the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 150mph – the certification aircraft’s intended cruise speed. The VX4 has been designed and built alongside global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Hanwha, Molicel, Leonardo and Syensqo.

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