- Vertical becomes only the second company in the world to
achieve piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres with a full-scale
vectored thrust eVTOL aircraft
- UK Civil Aviation Authority approves final stages of Phase 2
testing
- Strong start to 2025 as Vertical progresses towards flying
full-scale piloted wingborne ahead of transition flight
Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (“Vertical” or the “Company”) (NYSE:
EVTL; EVTLW), a global aerospace and technology company that is
pioneering electric aviation, has taken another significant step in
its testing programme by successfully completing its first piloted
thrustborne flight manoeuvres.
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Vertical's VX4 prototype successfully
completes its first piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres. (Photo:
Business Wire)
The milestone was achieved after the business received approval
from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expand its Permit to
Fly, enabling Vertical to progress from piloted thrustborne hover
to piloted thrustborne low-speed flight manoeuvres at altitude. The
latest flight included roll, yaw and spot turn manoeuvres and was
flown by Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot.
Completing the initial piloted thrustborne manoeuvres at its
Flight Test Centre made Vertical only the second company worldwide
to achieve this critical step using a full scale vectored thrust
eVTOL aircraft.
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. The team is now
focused on completing this phase while we prepare for the
significant next step of wingborne flight.”
First thrustborne flight
Vertical’s VX4 aircraft has now progressed from piloted hover
flight to piloted, low-speed manoeuvres using lift generated by the
propellers. Thrustborne flights are designed to assess the
aircraft’s stability, battery efficiency, control characteristics,
aerodynamics, structural and dynamic loads and performance across
different speeds, enabling further assessment of how the VX4
behaves under real-world flight conditions.
At the same time, Vertical will work with the CAA to expand its
Permit to Fly, clearing the path for Phase 3 — wingborne flight
tests. This phase, which includes flying beyond the airfield
boundaries, will effectively serve as a mini-certification of the
prototype, laying the groundwork for the VX4’s full
certification.
Strengthening the Team
To support the growing demands of its flight test programme,
Vertical has appointed Tim Eldridge as test pilot.
With over two decades of flight test experience in the Royal
Navy, including testing aircraft such as the Sea King, Merlin,
Chinook, and Lynx, Tim brings exceptional expertise to the team.
His prior roles, including at Babcock, with whom Vertical is
collaborating with on Emergency Medical Services (EMS), where Tim
was a helicopter EMS pilot, as well as at QinetiQ and Airbus
Helicopters further enhance Vertical’s flight test
capabilities.
Notes to editors:
Piloted flight test programme explainer
- Phase 1: Tethered: the VX4 will perform stabilised hover while
loosely tethered to the ground. COMPLETE
- Phase 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 will take-off and land vertically
and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the
propellers. IN PROGRESS
- Phase 3: Wingborne: the VX4 will take-off, fly and land like a
conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
- Phase 4: Transition: The VX4 will transition between
thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa.
Notes to Editors
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company
pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner
and quieter way to travel. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four
passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with
leading aerospace companies, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell and
Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller
technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest
eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers
across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan
Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre
of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by
Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe’s largest
independent energy retailer. Vertical’s experienced leadership team
comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as
Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously
certified and supported over 30 different civil and military
aircraft and propulsion systems.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future
events. We intend such forward- looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of
the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in
this press release that are not statements of historical fact may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the
VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy
and plans and objectives of management for future operations,
including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on
timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme
phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the
commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory
certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or
at all, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund
our operations, the differential strategy compared to our peer
group, expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our
future results of operations and financial position and expected
financial performance and operational performance, liquidity,
growth and profitability strategies, , our plans to mitigate the
risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern, the
transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as
statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,”
“believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,”
“anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “are likely
to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature.
Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected,
including, without limitation: our limited operating history
without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL
aircraft customer order; our potential inability to raise
additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our
operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring
losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise
substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our
ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to
produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected;
the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for
production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all;
the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect
and may have potential defects; our history of losses and the
expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for
the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a
relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL
aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and
suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational
needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not
materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the
pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any
time and any predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon
certain specified dates; any circumstances; any potential failure
to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and
retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we
have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal
controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly
remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations,
investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary
shares; as a foreign private issuer we follow certain home country
corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and
are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some
extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S.
domestic public company; and the other important factors discussed
under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on
March 14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in
our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof
and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250108901737/en/
Justin Bates, Head of Communications
justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463 Samuel Emden,
Head of Investor Affairs samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +44
7816 459 904
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL)
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