During untethered flight testing at Cotswold Airport in the UK, Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 full-scale prototype of its four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft was engaged in an incident. The UK-based public company reported the occurrence in a 6-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, confirming that the remotely piloted flight resulted in no injuries.
The incident took place during an uncrewed test aimed at evaluating the aircraft’s maneuverability in a motor failure test scenario—a critical step towards advancing to crewed operations. Vertical Aerospace expressed its commitment to closely collaborating with relevant authorities to address the situation.
Details from an insider at Cotswold Airport, as reported by UK publication Pilot, suggest that the aircraft experienced a crash from an approximate height of 20 feet. A photograph circulating online showcases the VX4 with significant damage to its structures, including the wing.
A spokesperson from Vertical Aerospace conveyed that the company would refrain from further commentary at this juncture. The potential implications of the incident on flight testing, in line with Vertical’s objective of achieving UK and EASA type certification for the VX4 by the end of 2026, remain uncertain.
This occurrence follows closely on the heels of Vertical Aerospace’s report on the first half of the current financial year. The company revealed to its shareholders that it holds cash reserves totaling £89.7 million ($114.8 million) and plans to allocate £80 million for the upcoming year. This financial commitment supports the VX4’s transition to commercial service, with prospective customers including Bristow, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Japan Airlines.
Vertical Aerospace initiated its flight testing journey with tethered flights of its first VX4 prototype in September 2022. Subsequently, the company expanded to untethered flights earlier this year. In a letter to shareholders dated August 3, the company’s founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick, stated that the forthcoming year’s cash reserves will facilitate crewed flight testing commencement and the development of an enhanced second prototype.
Notably, during the first half of the financial year, Vertical Aerospace secured design organization approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and expanded its provisional order backlog by securing South Korea’s Kakao Mobility as a prospective customer.
