Vertical Aerospace Begins Testing On New VX4 Prototype
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Vertical Aerospace Begins Testing On New VX4 Prototype

  • Testing for the new, more advanced VX4 prototype has begun with initial powered ground tests, including propeller balancing, complete at Vertical's Flight Test Centre.
  • Vertical will now conduct powered, propulsion testing ahead of "wheels up" phase with piloted flights, once the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued its Permit to Fly.

Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emissions aviation, today announced that testing on its most advanced eVTOL aircraft, unveiled last week, has started with initial powered ground tests, including propeller balancing, successfully complete.

Propeller balancing and spinning tests measure weight distribution of each propeller blade to ensure vibrations are minimised for smooth, stable flying.

Over the coming days, the company will conduct powered, propulsion system testing of its most advanced powertrain, which includes proprietary battery packs capable of producing 1.4 MW of peak power and has been designed, and built to certification safety standards at its multi-million-pound Vertical Energy Centre.

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These next tests involve securely anchoring the aircraft to prevent lift-off and running the engines at various power levels to measure thrust output, system integration, and structural integrity. Together, these tests will ensure the VX4 meets the highest standards of operational safety  which are needed for piloted flights.

The company will then move onto its “wheels up” phase with tethered flight tests before progressing to low-speed untethered flights, once it has been issued its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

David King, Chief Engineer, Vertical Aerospace, said: “These tests are a crucial step forward in our mission to certify the VX4 and make a cleaner, quieter, and safer way of air mobility a reality. Every day we are seeing amazing progress from the team at our Flight Test Centre, each test providing valuable insights to help shape the next. We continue to work alongside our regulator to develop the safest and most advanced eVTOL aircraft in the world.”

As the aerospace world meets in Farnborough this week, we could not be prouder of the team and look forward to sharing more on our progress towards piloted flights.” This next-generation VX4 is more powerful than the previous full-scale prototype, with an impressive 20% increase in the power to weight ratio, enabling the aircraft to reach speeds of up to 150mph – the certification aircraft’s intended cruise speed.

The aircraft has been designed and built alongside global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Hanwha, Molicel, Leonardo and Syensqo. It features Vertical’s next generation propellers and new proprietary battery technology, designed and manufactured at its multi-million pound state-of-the-art Vertical Energy Centre near Bristol, the UK’s most advanced aerospace battery facility.


Publishdate:
Jul 23, 2024
Vertical Aerospace
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