Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL makes 1st airfield-to-airfield flight with surprise appearance for RIAT 2025
July 16, 2025
Vertical Aerospace surprised onlookers this morning as its VX4 eVTOL aircraft touched down at RAF Fairford ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025.
Accompanied by a Van’s RV-8, the electric air taxi floated gracefully down to the runway, landing gently. As it rolled off the runway, spectators were treated to a tiltrotor transition as it taxied away.
RIAT had not advertised that the Vertical VX4 would be in attendance, not wanting to disappoint the crowds in the event that the flight couldn’t go ahead.
The aircraft is in flight testing, and landed at RAF Fairford conventionally (CTOL). Ultimately it will be capable of taking off and landing vertically, although that’s yet to be tested with a pilot on board.
Chaperoning the VX4 was a Van’s RV-8 acting as a chase plane. Having chase planes is standard practice for test flights, as they can gather additional data to help with the aircraft’s development.
The Vertical VX4 looks set to be on static display for the duration of the airshow. Vertical Aerospace has been contacted for comment.
The first airfield-to-airfield flight of the Vertical VX4
The flight today marks the first time Vertical’s VX4 has flown from one airfield to another. That’s a major milestone in the development of the British-made eVTOL.
The VX4 has been charging ahead on its development pathway, taking its first piloted open-airspace wingborne flight in May this year.
Piloted by chief test pilot Si Davies, the aircraft flew under a CAA Permit to Fly, reaching speeds of 150 miles per hour and an altitude of 2,000 ft. This was the first piloted eVTOL flight in European open airspace.
Since then, the aircraft has been deployed from its home at nearby Cotswold Airport on multiple sorties, operating under conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) procedures, as it did today.
Its first piloted transition flight, which will prove the vertical takeoff capabilities, is planned for later in 2025.
All images courtesy of PlanesTV, which will be broadcasting from the airshow across the weekend.
