Vertical Aerospace progresses to Stage 3 of flight testing
May 26, 2025
Vertical Aerospace appears to have performed the first conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) flight of its VX4 eVTOL, with unverified footage posted on social media apparently showing the aircraft in wing-borne flight beyond the perimeter of the circuit.
An eight-second video posted on Twitter/X by @steerwithmyrear appears to show the VX4 in forward flight, propellers tilted, accompanied by a chase helicopter. FlightRadar24 data from around 7am suggests that alongside a Vans RV-8 and an Agusta A109, a camera-equipped Robinson R44 was also airborne.
Although Vertical has yet to confirm or comment on the footage, it would suggest the company has progressed to the next element of its flight test campaign; Phase 3, which Vertical has previously stated will take it “further than ever before”. In February this year, Vertical confirmed it was preparing to “enter a new chapter in its history” with the initiation of the next phase. “Once the aircraft has completed wingborne flight, the aircraft will have, in effect, completed a mini-certification process with this prototype,” stated Vertical at the time. Two days ago, Vertical also published an image of the ‘VX4 Phase 3 Test Path’, outlining a circuit originating from its Flight Test Centre base.
In preparation for Phase 3, Vertical has recently been performing high speed taxi tests along the runway at its flight test centre at Cotswold Airport, with its rear propellers (used in the VTOL phase of flight) safely stowed. Throughout its test campaign, Vertical has been constantly engaged with the UK CAA; seeking incremental risk-based assessment and approvals with the regulator to progress with each new element.
“A chase aircraft isn’t just about getting photos,” confirmed Vertical’s head of flight test, Peter Scheidler, who will be leading the team through the Phase 3 wingborne tests. “What we really want to do is have a professional pilot that knows exactly what’s happening in that mission, is able to keep a safe distance from the aircraft under test, and provide valuable feedback”. Speaking in a YouTube update, Scheidler added that for Vertical will also have a second test pilot onboard the chase aircraft for “critical flights,” giving the test team “that extra measure of security to know that there is nothing that has been overlooked”.
Building on previous flight test phases (including tethered hovers and thrustborne flight), the wingborne element will see the five-seat aircraft take off, fly and land like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft, generating lift from its wing. A final fourth phase will then see the aircraft transition between thrustborne and wingborne flight, taking off vertically before flying forwards. Certification is expected in 2028.
