Vertical flies first piloted thrustborne tests in eVTOL
Photography by Adam Gasson / Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace has successfully completed a first set of piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres in its eVTOL aircraft.
The milestone means Vertical’s VX4 aircraft has now progressed from piloted hover flight tests to low-speed manoeuvres using lift generated by the propellers. The test flights, piloted by Simon Davies, Vertical’s chief test pilot, included roll, yaw and spot turn manoeuvres. They were carried out following recent approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expand its Permit to Fly.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “Starting the year with this milestone is a fantastic achievement and testament to the dedication of our team and partners. Becoming one of only two companies globally to conduct piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres in a full-scale vectored thrust eVTOL underscores the progress we’re making toward our Flightpath 2030 strategy and our vision to transform the way the world moves.”
Thrustborne flights form a critical phase of testing in the assessment of how the VX4 behaves under operational flight conditions. They are designed to test the aircraft’s stability, battery efficiency, control characteristics, aerodynamics, structural and dynamic loads and performance across different speeds.
“The team is now focused on completing this phase while we prepare for the significant next step of wingborne flight,” Simpson added.
That preparation includes further work with the UK regulator to expand its Permit to Fly. Wingborne flight tests will include flying beyond the airfield boundaries. Vertical describes this next phase as a “mini-certification of the prototype”.
Meanwhile, Vertical has appointed a new test pilot, as the flight test programme for VX4 expands.
Tim Eldridge joins the UK-based eVTOL developer with over two decades of flight test experience in the Royal Navy, including testing aircraft such as the Sea King, Merlin, Chinook and Lynx. Eldridge also used to fly for Babcock, with whom Vertical is collaborating with on Emergency Medical Services (EMS), as a helicopter EMS pilot.
