2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Vertical Aerospace has yet to comment on how damage to its eVTOL prototype aircraft during an August 9 flight test might impact its timeline for achieving type certification for the four-passenger vehicle by the end of 2026. The company has acknowledged that the first VX4 prototype was involved in “an incident” during untethered, remotely-piloted flight testing at Cotswold Airport in the UK and reported that no one was injured.
Several photos of the VX4 circulating online show what appears to be significant damage to the starboard wing, as well as to one or more of the tilting propellers and electric motors, and part of the landing gear. According to a report in the UK publication&nbsp;Pilot, a source at Cotswold Airport said that the aircraft had crashed to the ground from a height of around 20 feet. 
Vertical Aerospace has said it will be making no further comment on the incident for now, beyond the following written statement the public company made&nbsp;in a required 6-K filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:&nbsp;"Our flight test program is designed to establish the limits of the aircraft's performance, and the incident occurred during an uncrewed test of the aircraft's maneuverability during a motor failure test scenario, which is a key requirement to progress to crewed operations. We are working closely with the relevant authorities."
With the UK-registered tail number G-EVTL, the damaged aircraft is Vertical’s first full-scale prototype. It started tethered flight testing in a hangar at Cotswold Airport in September 2022 using ground power. On July 19, the company reported that the vehicle had <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-19/vertical-aerospace-starts-untethered-flight-testing-vx4-evtol-aircraft">started untethered flight testing </a>several weeks earlier, saying that it had achieved speeds of 40 knots with some forward movement in hover mode.
According to Vertical, only around 15 percent of the parts and equipment for the first prototype were provided by came its strategic partners, with the company using&nbsp;interim off-the-shelf hardware from UK suppliers. The vehicle does feature Honeywell’s wiring system, which controls the electric motors. Vertical is developing its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-14/vertical-aerospace-opens-vertical-energy-centre-evtol-battery-development">own batteries</a>.
<h3 class="subheading">Second VX4 Prototype Is Now Being Built</h3>
Leonardo is currently assembling a second prototype in Italy that include around 60 percent of its content from strategic suppliers, including the Molicel batteries. This vehicle has been expected to join the flight test program later this year. The proportion of certifiable hardware is expected to rise to 80 to 90 percent on the third prototype aircraft and the final production-conforming iteration coming together in the fourth aircraft to be built.
One key element will be the electric propulsion system that Rolls-Royce is developing for the VX4. It is unclear whether this will be available for installation on either the third or fourth prototypes. In May, Vertical’s chief&nbsp;technology officer Michael Cervenka told AIN that prospective customers for the VX4 are comfortable with the decision taken that month to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-05-22/review-certification-process-and-key-supplier-contributions-prompted">delay the aircraft’s entry into service</a>. Asked about whether cash reserves would be sufficient to complete type certification with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EASA, he said that a new round of fundraising to be completed this year could include some more “meaningful” pre-delivery payments from these operators.
In a <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-08-09/cash-reserve-reporting-reveals-haves-and-have-nots-among-evtol-aircraft">letter to shareholders on August 3,</a> Vertical reported cash reserves amounting to £89.7 million ($114.8 million) and said it is set to spend £80 million over the next 12 months as it works to bring the VX4 into commercial service with prospective customers including Bristow, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Japan Airlines. The company's founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick said that the available cash reserves will support the start of crewed flight testing and the construction of an upgraded second prototype.
Joby Aviation's efforts to certify its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft have stayed on track since a<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-24/jobys-second-evtol-prototype-restarts-flight-testing-after-accident"> February 2022 crash </a>that destroyed its second prototype aircraft during remotely piloted flight tests in California. In March 2023, Bell suffered the loss of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-20/bell-apt-autonomous-cargo-drone-crashes-texas">Autonomous Pod Transport drone prototype </a>in a "loss of control" accident during flight testing in Texas.
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Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Vertical Silent On Possible Impact of eVTOL Aircraft Prototype Flight Test Crash On Service Entry Timeline

Vertical Aerospace has started untethered flight testing with the first full-scale prototype of its VX4 eVTOL aircraft. On July 19, the UK company released images and video showing the aircraft in flight at Cotswold Airport and confirmed that flight testing has been progressing for several weeks.
During what appear to be low-altitude flights, the VX4 has achieved speeds of 40 knots. All the remotely piloted flights have been in hover-mode with some forward, with the company reporting early performance as surpassed expectations and insights that will help it improve performance for the four-passenger vehicle.
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The prototype is fitted with generic, off-the-shelf electric motors as Rolls-Royce is still working on a clean-sheet-design electric propulsion system for the production aircraft. All the power came from Vertical’s proprietary battery packs, developed at the new <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-14/vertical-aerospace-opens-vertical-energy-centre-evtol-battery-development">Vertical Energy Centre </a>at the company’s headquarters in Bristol.
Vertical started <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-11-10/vertical-aerospace-prepares-expand-evtol-aircraft-flight-testing">tethered flight testing</a>, mainly inside a hangar at Cotswold Airport back in September 2022. Later this year, it plans to add a second prototype to the flight test program as it works towards achieving <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-05-22/review-certification-process-and-key-supplier-contributions-prompted">UK and EASA type certification</a> by the end of 2026.
“The aircraft was remarkably easy to fly,” commented chief test pilot Justin Paines. “It was rock-solid in stability and provided precise control even in demanding flight conditions such as hovering close to the ground. The aircraft leaped into a stable hover at a lower RPM [revolutions per minute] than expected, taking advantage of the ground effect cushion. Battery temperatures and state-of-charge remained well within predictions for the duration of flights.”
In May, Vertical Aerospace confirmed it has started a new round of fund-raising to cover its cash needs from late 2024 when it expects to begin series production. As of the end of the first quarter on March 31, the company, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, had £104 million ($131 million) in its coffers.&nbsp;
On July 3 in a Securities and Exchange filing, Vertical confirmed the appointment of Stuart Simpson as its new CFO. He is the third person to have held this position in less than a year, with John Martin having succeeded Vinny Casey as recently as January 2023.
In addition to Rolls-Royce, other program partners include GKN, which is making the VX4’s wing and the electrical wiring interconnection system. Honeywell is providing the aircraft’s fly-by-wire control systems.
In May, South Korean mobility group Kakao became the latest prospective operator for the VX4, sighing provisional orders for 50 aircraft. The company, which has some 30 million users for its ride-hailing app, will form a joint working group with Vertical to prepare for commercial advanced air mobility services in the Asian country. Other sales commitments for the aircraft, which will have an initial range of around 100 miles, have come from prominent operators including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, Gol, Bristow, and AirAsia, as well as leasing groups Avolon and Marubeni.
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Vertical Aerospace Starts Untethered Flight Testing With VX4 eVTOL Aircraft

Multiple factors drove Vertical Aerospace’s decision earlier this month to push back the target date to certify its VX-4 four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-05-08/vertical-pushes-back-type-certification-target-date-vx4-evtol-aircraft-late">end of 2026</a>. But according to the UK company’s chief technology officer, Michael Cervenka, diminishing cash reserves wasn’t one of them, even though it is now launching a new round of fundraising to help cover its needs from late 2024&nbsp;until&nbsp;when it begins series production and initial deliveries to operators.
As of the end of the first quarter on March 31, Vertical had £104 million ($131 million) in its coffers. Contributing to the inevitable start-up operating loss of £23 million, research and development expenses, at £12.6 million, were 55 percent higher than in the same period in 2022, while “administrative” spending of £11.7 million was almost unchanged. 
In December 2021, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. However, this step came relatively late compared with progress by rivals, and the flotation raised only around <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-16/vertical-makes-wall-street-evtol-takeoff-300-million-flotation">$300 million</a>.
<h3 class="subheading">Vertical Says Cash Burn Is Stable</h3>
“Our cash burn is fairly stable, and our cash [spend] rate is only about a third to a quarter of other [eVTOL developers,” Cervenka told FutureFlight. “Our massive advantage is we’re an OEM and we’re not having to do ridesharing and all the other stuff.”
Unlike rivals such as Joby and Archer, Vertical has a&nbsp;business model that's entirely based on selling the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4">VX4</a> to operators, such as Virgin Atlantic Airways, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-11/airlines-place-biggest-evtol-orders-date-vertical-goes-public">American Airlines</a>, and various leasing groups. It is not having to bear the expense of getting approved to have an&nbsp;air operator&nbsp;certificate and establishing&nbsp;all the supporting infrastructure.
The Vertical payroll consists of some 300 people, including 200 or so engineers, which Cervenka said is far fewer than competitors employ. The company is also backed by leading aerospace groups acting as risk-sharing partners covering the cost of some of the contributions to the program. Honeywell, for example, is providing its new Anthem avionics suite, which will also feature on new business aircraft, while Rolls-Royce is developing the electric propulsion system (EPS) and GKN is making the VX4’s wings.
<h3 class="subheading">New Suppliers and Leadership Prompt Timeline Review</h3>
According to Cervenka, over the past six months or so Vertical has been reviewing the key steps to type certification, which will initially be conducted with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-21/easa-will-validate-uk-certification-vertical-aerospaces-vx4-evtol-aircraft">concurrently with EASA</a>. Over this period, the company made several changes to its management team, such as adding chief engineer David King, who formerly held senior program management roles with Leonardo, Bell, and Boeing, and Eduardo Dominguez Puerta, who was previously CEO of Airbus’s urban air mobility division.
“We have brought in additional supply-chain partners and have to understand how we end up with a better-integrated plan,” Cervenka told FutureFlight. “For instance, we were asking Rolls-Royce for equipment before we were ready for it or before we were ready to certify.”
The VX4 team also conducted focused engagement with both the CAA and EASA over the details of the regulatory framework for new eVTOL aircraft and how long the flight test program will need to be. It also reviewed the role of its various prototype aircraft in the certification process.
In September 2022, the first of these started tethered hover flights using ground power rather than onboard propulsion. Only around 15 percent of the parts and equipment for this came from strategic suppliers, with Vertical using&nbsp;interim off-the-shelf hardware from UK suppliers. The second vehicle, which is now being assembled by Leonardo in Italy, will have around 60 percent of its content from strategic suppliers, including the Molicel batteries, with the proportion of certifiable hardware rising to 80 to 90 percent on the third aircraft and the final iteration coming together in the fourth aircraft to be built.
Cervenka explained that the need to have the right batteries available in large volumes has been a key aspect of the timeline rethink. “We need batteries that are being mass produced rather than [in relatively small batches] in a lab, and Molicel has reached the sweet spot with a battery that is both good in terms of energy and also power density, which is especially important for landing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has been taking “a very rigorous and robust” approach to maturing the EPS based on a full understanding of the requirements for it, including all aspects of maneuvering the aircraft in tough conditions and with complete safety redundancy. On the first prototype, a lot of work has been done on the inverter so that the Honeywell wiring systems can control the motors.
This aircraft will resume test flights in the next few weeks, with the second prototype expected to join it in the air later this year, followed by what Vertical calls its first “certification aircraft” in 2025. “Using ground power for the first aircraft was the right decision because we could do a lot of running with all our test pilots both indoors and outside,” Cervenka said. “We have done a lot of dynamic modeling with different motors and speeds, including structural load tests and a lot of work on Honeywell’s flight control software and thermal runaway testing with the batteries.”
In March, the company opened the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-14/vertical-aerospace-opens-vertical-energy-centre-evtol-battery-development">Vertical Energy Center</a> at its headquarters in Bristol and this is now the hub for all battery testing. In the same month, the CAA issued its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-30/uk-regulator-issues-first-evtol-design-organization-approval-vertical">design organization approval</a>, which is a key requirement to be able to complete the type certification process, for which the UK regulator is adopting EASA’s SC-VTOL means of compliance.
According to Cervenka, prospective customers for the VX4 are comfortable with the delayed path to entry into service for these aircraft. He said that the new round of fundraising could include some more “meaningful” pre-delivery payments from these operators.
<h3 class="subheading">Kakao Mobility Agrees To Buy 50 VX4 eVTOLs</h3>
On May 22, South Korea’s Kakao Mobility placed a preorder&nbsp;for 50 of the aircraft. The company, which has some 30 million users for its ride-hailing app, will form a joint working group with Vertical to prepare for commercial advanced air mobility services in the Asian country, which appears set to be an early adopter of eVTOL flights.
Vertical may well find it is not alone in having to push back its type certification timeline. Reflecting on what he sees as a sound and well-defined regulatory approach by EASA and the CAA, Cervenka described the process now being navigated by his U.S. rivals aiming for FAA certification in late 2024 or 2025 as&nbsp;“a massive risk.”
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Review of Certification Process and Key Supplier Contributions Prompted Vertical's eVTOL Aircraft Program Delay

Vertical Aerospace has confirmed that it expects to need at least an additional 12 months to achieve type certifications for its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4?model=va-x4">VX-4 eVTOL a</a>ircraft. In a letter to shareholders marking the end of the first quarter of 2023, the UK-based public company said that a review of the program timeline has resulted in a decision by the management team to target certification by the end of 2026. Vertical had&nbsp;previously indicated the four-passenger vehicle could be approved in 2025.
Insofar as the company has explained the reasons for the delay, it has mainly been in terms of technical issues relating to the certification process. However, reporting on its first-quarter balance sheet, the company said that as of March 31, it had cash reserves totaling £104 million ($131 million), which is markedly less than several other front runners in the race, to bring an eVTOL aircraft to market. The operating loss for the first quarter was £23 million.
Vertical now says that its current&nbsp;funding is sufficient to “achieve our goals throughout 2023 and 2024.” It confirmed that a further round of fundraising will be started this year.
The <a href="https://s29.q4cdn.com/421996561/files/doc_financials/2023/q1/ver_SHL_Q1-2023_am_12.pdf">letter,</a> from founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick and chairperson Dómhnal Slattery, summarized ongoing work with air safety regulators in the UK, Europe, the U.S., and Japan, indicating that gaps in regulatory requirements partly explain the need to take more time. “While we apply both new and already-proven technology to these novel aircraft, we do not have a rulebook to follow that sets the highest standards of safety­—the same as large-transport-category aeroplanes,” they stated. “We believe this is necessary to win the trust of passengers, proving that these aircraft meet the maximum levels of aerospace safety. Designing for these high standards will also facilitate compliance with the envelope of all national requirements.”
<h3 class="subheading">More Flight Testing Needed</h3>
Back in September 2022, Vertical achieved the first tethered and piloted hover flight with its VX4 demonstrator aircraft inside a hangar. Since then, the company has said little about the extent to which the envelope for flight testing has been expanded and it is not even clear whether the aircraft has yet flown with its own propulsion system, rather than using ground power.
Shareholders were told that the first demonstrator aircraft will start the second phase of its flight test program shortly. The company said it is now building a second prototype to expedite the discovery process needed to “incorporate further performance and maturity developments.” 
This second prototype is being built by helicopter manufacturer Leonardo at its facility in southern Italy. It will incorporate battery packs made at the new <a href="technical issues relating to the certification process">Vertical Energy Centre</a> in the UK using cells provided by Molicell. Sovlay is providing composite materials, GKN supplies electrical wiring, and Honeywell is responsible for avionics and flight controls.
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 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Prospective customers for Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL aircraft, such as helicopter group Babcock, will now have to wait until the end of 2026 for the new model to complete type certification. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Prospective customers for Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL aircraft, such as helicopter group Babcock, will now have to wait until the end of 2026 for the model to complete type certification. (Image: Vertical Aerospace)</figcaption>
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“Our approach to certification and our corresponding flight tests have been measured and steady,” said Fitzpatrick and Slattery in their letter to shareholders. “At Vertical, we believe that flying piloted full-scale demonstrators from the beginning of the certification journey maximizes learnings which will pave the way for a final optimized certification-ready aircraft. This might mean that our prototyping and flight tests need a greater time investment now, but we believe this will pay off when it comes to certifying the VX4.”
<h3 class="subheading">Leadership Changes Lead to Program Review</h3>
The company said that the review of the certification and entry-into-service timeline for Vertical’s eVTOL vehicle had been taken after changes to the management structure that saw chief commercial officer Eduardo Dominguez Puerta appointed as chief operating officer. He is now working closely with the company’s chief engineer, David King. Mike Flewitt has been appointed as chairperson to succeed Slattery, who will now focus on fundraising.
In March, the UK Civil Aviation Authority awarded Vertical Aerospace its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-30/uk-regulator-issues-first-evtol-design-organization-approval-vertical">design organization approval</a>, which is an important prerequisite to being able to complete the type certification process. Earlier that same month, the British regulator confirmed that it is willing to work with the Special Condition VTOL means-of-compliance&nbsp;guidance established by the European Aviation Safety Agency.&nbsp;
Vertical has received provisional sales commitments from customers including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Flying Group, Air Asia, and Babock, as well as leasing groups Avalon and Japan's Marubeni. American Airlines and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-20/vertical-receives-payment-first-vx4-evtol-aircraft-deliveries-japan">Marubeni </a>have both made pre-delivery&nbsp;payments.
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Vertical Pushes Back Type Certification Target Date for VX4 eVTOL Aircraft to Late 2026

Hanwha Aerospace is joining forces with advanced engineering company Stirling Dynamics to produce the electromechanical actuators (EMA) for Vertical Aerospace’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4">VX4</a> eVTOL aircraft. The collaboration announced this week builds on a partnership between the companies that started in 2016 and which has extended to development work on the actuators since Vertical Aerospace selected South Korea-based Hanwha as a supplier for this key component.
Stirling Dynamics is part of&nbsp;the technology consultancy Expleo and, like Vertical, is&nbsp;located in the UK. South Korea-based Hanwha has been manufacturing aircraft engines and components for more than 40 years and is a partner with major powerplant companies including GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt &amp; Whitney.
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace as we combine our technological expertise to drive EMA development for Vertical Aerospace,” said Stirling Dynamics v-p Bandula Pathinayake. “Our work on EMAs reflects the industry’s shift towards electrification and its sustainable vision for the future of flight.”
Vertical Aerospace’s all-electric VX4 is designed to carry four passengers plus one pilot up to around 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge. Its design features a 50-foot (15 meters) fixed wing with four tilting rotors mounted on the front and four stowable rotors in the rear. This configuration allows the aircraft to take off and land vertically like a helicopter but operate like an airplane in cruise flight, all while the EMAs precisely control the positions and movements of the rotors.&nbsp;
In most conventional airplanes, actuators that control the various moving parts of the aircraft use a combination of hydraulics, cables, and pushrods. Using EMAs removes the need for any hydraulic or pneumatic systems on the aircraft, helping to reduce weight, increase efficiency, and optimize overall performance.&nbsp;
In addition to its work with Vertical Aerospace, Hanwha is also a key backer and partner for U.S.-based eVTOL aircraft&nbsp;developer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-14/hanwha-boosts-backing-overairs-butterfly-evtol-aircraft-145-million">Overair</a>. The company is also working together with Skyports <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-03/skyports-and-hanwha-team-develop-vertiports-south-korea">to develop vertiports</a> in South Korea. 
Stirling Dynamics has more than 30 years' worth of experience developing various systems for a variety of aircraft and marine vessels. Aircraft programs that Stirling Dynamics has worked on in the past include&nbsp;the F-35 Lightning II fighter, Airbus' single-aisle&nbsp;and widebody families, the A350 and&nbsp;A400M, Bombardier's C-Series&nbsp;and Global 7000/8000 business jets, and Leonardo's helicopters.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Stirling Dynamics Joins Hanwha in Developing Actuators for Vertical's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this week issued design organization approval (DOA) to eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace. The approval clears the way for the Bristol-based company to further advance its work to design and certify its four-passenger <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4?model=va-x4">VX4 vehicle</a>.
According to Vertical, it is the first eVTOL manufacturer to be issued a DOA by the UK air safety agency. The approval process involved an assessment of the start-up’s procedures and quality management systems, as well as the competence of its technical workforce. CAA inspectors also considered whether the company has all the necessary facilities and equipment to complete the type certification of a new aircraft.
Vertical DOA (designated as UK.21J.1001) has been issued under the category for small airplanes with eVTOL limitations. The approval means that the company’s engineering design organization is now compliant with the UK’s Part 21 Subpart J regulatory requirements.
Earlier in March, the CAA confirmed that it intends to adopt the Special Condition VTOL means of compliance developed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This decision is expected to facilitate the process by which the CAA's type certificate&nbsp;would be concurrently validated by EASA, of which the UK used to be a member state.
“Taken together, this progress provides essential regulatory clarity to Vertical on the requirements for the development of its VX4 and further discussions will continue with the CAA in the coming months, including robust technical familiarizations,” the company said in a written statement on March 30. “This positions the UK, alongside Europe, as a market with a clear regulatory framework for the design and manufacture of these novel electric aircraft.”
Vertical also confirmed that it has formally started the VX4’s type certification validation process with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). This means the company is now pursuing type certification in four jurisdictions, including with&nbsp;&nbsp;the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and&nbsp;Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency. Before starting series production of the aircraft, Vertical will also need to be issued with production organization approval.
Launch customers for the all-electric aircraft include Japan Airlines, which has agreed to take 100 vehicles through leasing group Avolon, and<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-20/vertical-receives-payment-first-vx4-evtol-aircraft-deliveries-japan"> Marubeni Corporation</a> with 200 preorders. Marubeni recently announced that it aims to deploy the VX4 as one of several eVTOL aircraft operators that will be participating in the advanced air mobility showcase during the 2025 Osaka World Expo.
“Receiving a DOA from the CAA is a huge testament to our team and the hard work we are doing to ensure safety is at the core of the VX4,” said Paul Harper, Vertical’s head of certification. “I believe that in formally working with JCAB, as the fourth regulator Vertical is committed to certifying with, we are on track for establishing the most detailed understanding of global regulators’ needs and differences for eVTOLs. This will give us a competitive edge in bringing the VX4 into service.”
Vertical’s program team includes leading aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Leonardo, and GKN Aerospace. The company has reported more than 1,400 preorders for an aircraft that is expected to deliver a range of up to 100 miles at a 150 mph cruise speed. In September 2022, it started tethered hover <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-26/verticals-vx4-evtol-aircraft-prototype-makes-first-hover-flight">flight testing</a> with an initial prototype.

UK Regulator Issues First eVTOL Design Organization Approval to Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace, a UK-based start-up developing the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4?model=va-x4">VX4 eVTOL aircraft</a>, has opened a facility in Bristol dedicated to designing, testing, and manufacturing batteries for electric aircraft, the company announced today. The Vertical Energy Centre (VEC)&nbsp;is the UK’s most advanced aerospace battery facility, says the company.
At least 50 Vertical employees are now working at the 15,000-sq-ft facility, where Vertical is developing proprietary battery technologies that will enable higher power-to-weight ratios for eVTOL aircraft. The company is planning for its eVTOL air taxi to enter service in 2025 with a battery system that delivers 220 Wh/kg of specific energy, which will enable the electric aircraft to conduct back-to-back missions with minimal downtime for charging in between flights, and with limited impact on the battery pack’s cycle life, according to Vertical.&nbsp;
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“Aircraft require high-performing and safer batteries than anything on the market today. This facility and our core technology will unlock this, bringing the reality of electric flight even closer,” said Limhi Somerville, the head of Vertical’s powertrain team. Somerville also chairs the eVTOL EuroCAE electrical certification group, which is defining the battery standards for electric aviation with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
In July 2022, Vertical announced a partnership with Taiwanese lithium-ion battery maker E-One Moli Energy, also known as Molicel, with the goal of combining Vertical’s battery pack design <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-06/molicels-lithium-ion-batteries-will-power-vertical-aerospaces-vx4-evtol">with Molicel’s battery cell technology</a>. Vertical says it has already conducted several tests on the battery cells at the new VEC, and the company has begun building manufacturing machinery and assembling its first prototype battery modules.&nbsp;
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<figcaption>Vertical's eVTOL battery packs use battery cells supplied by Molicel. (Photo: Vertical Aerospace)</figcaption>
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Before opening the VEC, Vertical had already conducted extensive tests of its battery systems, including temperature, vibration, and durability tests as well as drop tests. It has also conducted crash and thermal runaway testing under the supervision of EASA and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.
Last month, Vertical announced that it had received a £14 million ($17 million) award <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-02-07/uk-government-releases-new-funding-hydrogen-and-electric-aviation">from the Aerospace Technology Institute</a>, through a partnership with the UK government, to fund the development of its proprietary battery technologies.&nbsp;
“Vertical’s investment in cutting-edge battery technology brings us one step closer to delivering zero-emission flight, a central objective of the Jet Zero Council,” said Lord Johnson, the UK’s minister for investment. “Tomorrow’s technologies like zero-emissions aviation will not only provide a boost to sustainable growth but are essential for generating the new, high-quality jobs that will take Britain’s economy into the future.”
&nbsp;

Vertical Aerospace Opens Vertical Energy Centre for eVTOL Battery Development

Vertical Aerospace says it has secured a pre-delivery payment from Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni Corporation for 25 <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/vertical-vx4">VX4 eVTOL aircraft</a>, making the leasing group Vertical’s first customer in Asia to back its VX4 orders with a down payment.&nbsp;
In September 2021, Marubeni conditionally agreed to purchase up to 200 of the four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, which Vertical expects to deliver in 2025. Marubeni’s undisclosed pre-delivery payment covers the first 25 of those units and secures their delivery slots.&nbsp;
When Marubeni placed those conditional pre-orders in 2021, the company also signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly evaluate what it would take to launch eVTOL operations in Japan with Vertical Aerospace.&nbsp;
Vertical, a UK-based startup, plans to have the VX4 operating in Japan in time for the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-20/japan-airlines-could-take-100-evtol-aircraft-air-taxi-plans-2025-osaka">Osaka-Kansai World Expo</a> in 2025, where the aircraft could provide air taxi services for attendees of the six-month-long event. Organizers of the event are expected to publicly announce the eVTOL operators selected to participate in the event by the end of January.&nbsp;
“Japan is a wonderful country that is embracing the promise of eVTOL, as it will connect cities and regions like never before,” said Vertical Aerospace founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick. “We look forward to our joint efforts to build the ecosystem for zero-emissions travel in Japan.”
“I am confident that our continued joint efforts with Vertical Aerospace, such as evaluating the requirements for eVTOL operations and engaging the potential partners under the joint working group, together with this new agreement, will accelerate the development of the AAM market in Japan,” added Satoshi Takechi, the general manager of Marubeni’s department of aviation, space and defense. “Marubeni will further enhance activities to materialize our business, which aims to make air travel more accessible and convenient, while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation measures, including low-carbon and decarbonization initiatives.”
Vertical’s VX4 is a fully electric eVTOL aircraft that can carry four passengers plus one pilot on trips of around 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a single charge, while traveling at a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h). Its design features a fixed-wing aircraft with tilting rotors, and Vertical says it will be 100 times quieter in flight than a helicopter. The VX4 completed its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-26/verticals-vx4-evtol-aircraft-prototype-makes-first-hover-flight">first hover flight test</a> in September 2022.
Vertical is working on concurrently certifying the VX4 with&nbsp;the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority and EASA. The company expects to achieve type certification in 2024, with the first deliveries to follow in 2025. So far, other VX4 customers include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-15/american-airlines-commits-purchasing-50-evtol-vertical-aerospace">American Airlines</a> (which has made prepayments for its first 50 deliveries), Virgin Atlantic, FlyingGroup, and Avalon.

Vertical Receives Payment for First VX4 eVTOL Aircraft Deliveries in Japan

Vertical Aerospace has achieved a first tethered takeoff with its VX4 eVTOL prototype aircraft, with the company reporting on Monday that the flight happened on Saturday. The UK-based start-up provided few details about the flight, beyond confirming that chief test pilot Justin Paines had been at the controls and that the vehicle had hovered at around one meter above the ground for 10 minutes.
Since the flight was piloted, it required a “Permit to Fly” issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. According to Vertical Aerospace, it is the first British company to start flight tests with a new aircraft in more than 20 years. The Bristol-based manufacturer said that the flight took place inside a hangar at Kemble Airport in the west of England, where it intends to conduct initial flight testing.
In its September 26 statement, Vertical said “it is hoped” the four-passenger eVTOL vehicle will achieve type certification in 2025. This appears to suggest some caution over committing to a timeline that—as recently as April when Vertical provided an update on the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-21/easa-will-validate-uk-certification-vertical-aerospaces-vx4-evtol-aircraft">certification program</a>—referred to the aircraft achieving first deliveries and entry into service in 2025. The company had previously indicated that its concurrent UK and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-21/easa-will-validate-uk-certification-vertical-aerospaces-vx4-evtol-aircraft">EASA </a>type certification would be completed in 2024.
In a written statement, Vertical Aerospace told&nbsp;FutureFlight&nbsp;that the anticipated timing for type certification has not changed. "We are not commenting on specific future timings at this early stage," a spokeswoman said.
Over the coming months, Vertical says, the first VX4 prototype will fly at increasingly higher altitudes and speeds before demonstrating the critical transition from vertical to horizontal flight. The all-electric aircraft, which has eight sets of tilting propellers, is expected to fly sectors of up to 100 miles, cruising at 150 mph and with a top speed of 200 mph.
Vertical says that it now holds conditional preorders for more than 1,400 of the aircraft, with prospective customers including major airlines, such as <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-15/american-airlines-commits-purchasing-50-evtol-vertical-aerospace">American Airlines </a>(which has made prepayments for its first 50 deliveries), Virgin Atlantic Airways, Japan Airlines, and Air Asia. <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-15/uks-future-flight-challenge-funds-new-advanced-mobility-ecosystem">Virgin plans</a>&nbsp;to conduct two operational test flights with the VX4 in the spring of 2024 on trips from London Heathrow and Bristol airports.
“This test represented the culmination of many months of preparation by a huge team and being at the controls of the VX4 for the first time was an honor and a proud moment for us all,” said Paines.
Major program partners for the VX4 include avionics group Honeywell Aerospace, aerostructures specialist <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-25/vertical-approaches-evtol-first-flight-gkn-installs-vx4-wiring">GKN</a>, and aircraft engines maker Rolls-Royce.
&nbsp;

Vertical Aerospace

News

Vertical Silent On Possible Impact of eVTOL Aircraft Prototype Flight Test Crash On Service Entry Timeline

Vertical Aerospace Starts Untethered Flight Testing With VX4 eVTOL Aircraft

Review of Certification Process and Key Supplier Contributions Prompted Vertical's eVTOL Aircraft Program Delay

Vertical Pushes Back Type Certification Target Date for VX4 eVTOL Aircraft to Late 2026

Stirling Dynamics Joins Hanwha in Developing Actuators for Vertical's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft

UK Regulator Issues First eVTOL Design Organization Approval to Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace Opens Vertical Energy Centre for eVTOL Battery Development

Vertical Receives Payment for First VX4 eVTOL Aircraft Deliveries in Japan

Vertical's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft Prototype Makes First Hover Flight

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