The future of air travel took a major leap forward last week as Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based innovator in electric flying taxis, completed a groundbreaking cross-country flight in its VX4 prototype — the first of its kind in European aviation history.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, known as the VX4, successfully performed a wingborne flight over the Cotswolds countryside before landing conventionally at a nearby airport. The achievement marks a pivotal moment in the journey toward commercial electric air mobility in the UK.
Vertical Aerospace envisions the VX4 transforming short-haul travel, offering ultra-fast, zero-emission journeys such as a 12-minute hop from Battersea to Heathrow. The firm is targeting full-scale passenger operations — with four seats and a range of up to 100 miles — by 2028.
Government and Industry Celebrate Milestone
The historic flight received praise from the highest levels of government. Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, commented:
“This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical and for the UK’s world-class aerospace sector. Breakthroughs like this show how government and business can work together to keep the UK at the cutting edge of innovation.”
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the flight after reviewing extensive safety documentation, reinforcing the VX4’s progress in meeting strict aviation standards. It follows a successful piloted hover flight by the company earlier this year.
Certification Journey Takes Flight
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, called the achievement a major step in their certification campaign:
“Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey.”
He added:
“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.”
Pilot Praises VX4 Performance
Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies was at the controls for the historic flight and praised the aircraft’s performance:
“The firm’s performance predictions had been absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we’ve done.”
He concluded by calling the experience “an absolute pleasure,” adding that the VX4 not only met safety expectations but exceeded them in flight behaviour.
This success places Vertical Aerospace at the forefront of the global race to bring sustainable, electric air taxis into everyday transport — a development that could dramatically reshape how we move through and between cities in the near future.
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