Vertical Aerospace kicked off 2025 by achieving its first piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres on its full-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The UK-based company is now the second globally to have achieved such a milestone. The test flight of the VX4 included roll, yaw and spot turn manoeuvres.
“Starting the year with this milestone is a fantastic achievement and testament to the dedication of our team and partners,” said Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson. “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.”
Simpson added that the team is now focussing on the next phase of wingborne flight, which will involve it takeoff, fly, and land in a conventional fashion, with lift generated by the wing. The subsequent and final phase will see the VX4 transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa.
Vertical has also selected artificial intelligence (AI) software provider Monolith to help the company optimise its eVTOL testing and simulation programmes to improve performance and accelerate the VX4's introduction to the market.
“With Monolith, Vertical will model complex systems faster and accelerate test campaigns, enabling the company to learn more about design performance while reducing development and testing time," said Monolith CEO and founder Richard Ahlfeld.
Vertical Aerospace chief engineer David King commented: “Collaborating with Monolith allows us to harness cutting-edge AI technology to streamline our testing processes, enabling us to focus on the most impactful areas and accelerate the VX4’s journey to market. By integrating Monolith’s tools, we can enhance our engineering precision, reduce timelines, and continue setting the benchmark for the eVTOL industry.”
Vertical has around 1,500 preorders for its VX4 eVTOL aircraft.