Vertical Aerospace, a company set up by Irish born Stephen Fitzpatrick and chaired by Dómhnal Slattery completed the first piloted flight of its electric air taxi, the VX4, in European open airspace, marking a critical milestone for the company.
This flight, conducted at Cotswold Airport, involved the VX4 operating in wingborne mode, which mimics the flight mechanics of conventional aircraft.
The London based Civil Aviation Authority approved this landmark flight, extending Vertical’s permit to operate in open airspace.
Vertical Aerospace has faced challenges including a major restructuring and a lawsuit against a firm involved in the development of its aircraft components.
Stuart Simpson shared “Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the English CAA is an important moment in our certification journey. It amounts to a mini-certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification.”
