Vertical Aerospace, a UK-based aerospace and technology company, has achieved a major milestone in European aviation history by completing the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in open airspace.
The successful flight of the VX4 prototype took place at Cotswold Airport and marked the first time this type of aircraft has taken off, flown, and landed using lift generated by its wings, similar to a conventional airplane.
This represents Phase 3 of the project, Phase 2 having seen the craft use its propellers to take off, land and manouevre. Phase 4, expected to happen later this year, will see the prototype transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight.
The flight was approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which extended Vertical Aerospace’s Permit to Fly following a review of the aircraft’s safety and technical documentation. This flight is a crucial achievement in the company’s Flightpath 2030 strategy, aimed at commercialising electric air travel.
Vertical Aerospace is currently the only company worldwide flying a piloted, winged eVTOL developed under a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the CAA. A DOA is essential for obtaining a Type Certificate, which is required for commercial passenger operations.
The significance of wingborne flight lies in its efficiency. In this mode, the aircraft flies like a traditional plane, using less power and generating minimal noise. It represents a major step toward practical, scalable, and economically viable electric aviation. In real world conditions, the VX4 will reach speeds of 150 mph and altitudes of nearly 2,000 feet.
The Bristol-based company already has around 1,500 pre-orders of the VX4 from airlines including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Brazil’s GOL and Bristow.
Chief Test Pilot, Simon Davies, said: ‘Taking the aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me. Our performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation
we’ve done.
‘There are aircraft which are safe and capable but not always enjoyable to fly. The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure. It is responsive, smooth, simple to operate and the sound level from the propellers is quiet and pleasant in the cockpit. An honour to fly, and a real testament to the incredible team behind it.’
Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: ‘Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey. 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.’
‘Our decision to put a pilot into the VX4 early was deliberate – real-world piloted flight delivers insights no simulation can. This milestone proves the capability of the aircraft and the maturity of our programme as we move toward commercial operations.’
A UK Civil Aviation Authority Spokesperson said: ‘Aviation is going through of one of the biggest changes to how people fly and transport goods.
‘That’s why we are playing our part as the regulator, by working with innovators such as Vertical to support the testing of brand new forms of aviation and ensure their developments progress in a safe, secure and sustainable way.’
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