Vertical Aerospace: Safe, cheap, green way to fly, ready for take-off?

UK-based Vertical Aerospace is a bold innovator set to make next-generation passenger air taxis a reality.

The company has positioned itself as an industry leader with its flagship product, the VX4, which can carry four passengers up to 100 miles (160km) at speeds of around 150mph (240 km/h).

Compared to traditional choppers, its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are designed for short-haul urban and regional transport.

It promises a quieter flight and zero emissions.

Will it fly?

The company, founded in 2016, has been making significant progress: it has accumulated hours of piloted test flights and clocked up some 1,500 pre-orders, worth about $6 billion.

Bristol-based Vertical, which employs about 300 people, designed its aircraft to meet the same levels required of commercial passenger airliners.

Regional flights

Initially, VX4 will be used for regional flights – sort of skybound airport transfers – for example, by cutting travel time from Battersea to Heathrow to just 12 mins (51 minutes by car about via A219 and M4), with the efficiency and ease of electric flight. 

Challenges

Intense regulatory scrutiny could push back certification amid intense competition with companies like US-based Joby and Archer, which are backed by their own industrial and tech partners.

Amid numerous challenges, Vertical has completed the first piloted powered flight manoeuvres, according to a company statement.

The company has adopted a simple strategy: use proven technologies from third-party suppliers whenever feasible.

Key tech, however, are developed internally: Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies told Aviation Week that next-generation propellers and battery packs — areas where no off-the-shelf solutions exist – are developed in-house.

Its propellers are unique — they're neither traditional aircraft props nor rotor blades. Their operating speeds mean existing certification methods don’t fully apply. 

Patents

In the process, Vertical has made a number of innovations covered by patents: One for advanced flight control systems that use AI and sensors, another for altitude control, and aerodynamic design enhancements that improve the vehicle's lift-to-drag ratio, stability, and performance.

The propeller design was revised after an earlier mishap with the first prototype: a blade delaminated during a remotely-piloted flight, damaging the wing and severing controller area network bus connections, which caused other rotors to fail.

The aircraft design was updated, now used in test prototypes, to address these issues.

The aircraft is going through a rigorous certification and airworthiness process with aviation regulators. 

Certification of the VX4 eVTOL aircraft has been pushed back, from 2025 to 2026, but the company is pushing ahead with its game-changing air-taxi solution.

Partners

Having signed strategic alliances with Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Jaguar Land Rover, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo, the company has a pedigree.

Does Vertical Aerospace ultimately have what it takes to succeed in rolling out a safe, inexpensive and green air transport?

Let’s take a closer look:

Investment deal

In December, Vertical signed a pivotal investment agreement with Mudrick Capital and majority shareholder Stephen Fitzpatrick on December 20, 2024. 

This agreement follows November's announcement of up to $50 million in new funding, part of a larger $180 million balance sheet strengthening initiative.

Order book

As of December 2024, Vertical Aerospace has 1,500 pre-orders of its VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Customers across 4 continents, including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, GOL, FlyingGroup and Bristow, Marubeni, AirAsia, among others.

Japan’s Marubeni has placed a conditional pre-order option of up to 200 aircraft while Avolon, an international aircraft leasing company, has pre-ordered up to 500 aircraft.

Competitive edge

Vertical’s Sstrong focus on partnerships ensures access to cutting-edge technology.  

Regulatory approval

Its broad pre-order base positions the company for scalability.

Subject to regulatory approval, Vertical Aerospace could be en route to revolutionising urban air mobility, with commercial operations by next year, 2026, or before the decade is out.