Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 prototype achieves major milestone with launch of Phase 2 piloted flight testing

Vertical Aerospace’s full-scale VX4 prototype has accomplished piloted, untethered vertical take-off and touchdown for the primary time, as Part 2 of its flight check programme begins.

The VX4 prototype, which delivers as much as 1.4 MW of peak energy, surpassed expectations in hover efficiency, management and stability. Testing will now progress to low- pace manoeuvres utilizing raise generated by the propellers at its Flight Take a look at Centre at Cotswolds Airport in Gloucestershire, UK.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, mentioned: “It’s nice to see the VX4 throw off the tethers and transfer to the subsequent section of our piloted check flight programme. We now enter a realm that only a few firms on the planet have achieved.

“Our workforce is thrilled with the numerous strides we proceed to make with the VX4 prototype as we broaden our learnings and take one other step in the direction of connecting communities with quicker, cleaner and safer journey.”

Thrustborne flights are designed to evaluate the plane’s stability, battery effectivity, management traits, aerodynamics, structural and dynamic hundreds and efficiency throughout completely different speeds, enabling additional evaluation of how the VX4 behaves underneath real-world flight circumstances.

This marks an enlargement of the VX4’s flight envelope past the preliminary tethered hover situation in Part 1, because the prototype continues to function underneath extra demanding circumstances, guaranteeing it meets probably the most stringent security and regulatory requirements.

The second of 4 testing phases follows the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) enlargement of Vertical’s Allow to Fly. To safe this enlargement, Vertical submitted in depth documentation verifying the VX4 prototype’s security underneath Part 2 circumstances.

This included techniques and structural validations, Part 1 outcomes, flight check protocols, engineering specs, and detailed operational procedures.

Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Take a look at Pilot, who flew the VX4 prototype, added: “The plane carried out completely brilliantly, and was actually steady within the hover. The flight controls felt good, and it’s nice to have the tethers off. Every little thing on the plane labored completely — no surprises, good and boring — an excellent check flight.

“Undoubtedly my favorite and most memorable flight in hundreds of flight hours, however my job was very easy — standing on the shoulders of giants! So happy with our workforce.”

Vertical will now progress by means of Part 2 whereas working with the CAA to increase it’s Allow to Fly and transfer onto Part 3 — wingborne flight exams. This subsequent stage will contain piloted take-off, flight, and touchdown like a standard plane utilizing wing-generated raise.

The first focus of this section is increasing the transition envelope as safely as attainable — working down in pace from excessive altitude slightly than up in pace from low altitude, which is far safer. Part 4 will contain transitioning between thrustborne and wingborne flight modes.

Vertical is presently creating an similar full-scale prototype which can speed up the VX4’s flight check programme and demonstration functionality. As soon as assembled, the corporate will take flight check learnings from each prototypes into the design and growth of the licensed VX4 mannequin.

Piloted flight check programme explainer

• Part 1: Tethered: the VX4 will carry out stabilised hover whereas loosely tethered to the bottom. COMPLETE
• Part 2: Thrustborne: the VX4 will take-off and land vertically and conduct low pace flight manoeuvres
  with raise generated by the propellers. STARTED
• Part 3: Wingborne: the VX4 will take-off, fly and land like a standard plane, with raise generated by
  the wing
• Part 4: Transition: The VX4 will transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight, and vice versa

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The publish Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 prototype achieves major milestone with launch of Phase 2 piloted flight testing appeared first on eVTOL Insights.