- Vertical’s most advanced full-scale prototype is key step
towards certification of aircraft.
- 60% of this prototype’s technology is from Vertical’s strategic
aerospace partners GKN Aerospace, Hanwha, Honeywell, Leonardo,
Molicel, Syensqo.
- First use of Vertical’s powerful proprietary battery
technology, designed and built in the Vertical Energy Centre, with
rapid charging and capable of cruise speeds of up to 150mph.
- Vertical will shortly begin a robust flight test programme,
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 unveiled its next generation full-scale VX4 prototype, the
only electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) designed, built
and assembled in the UK.
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the full release here:
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Vertical Aerospace's new, more advanced
VX4 prototype, the only electric take-off and landing vehicle
(eVTOL) designed, built and assembled in the UK with leading
aerospace partners. (Photo: Business Wire)
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.
The new VX4 prototype has successfully completed systems and
aircraft testing and commissioning. Vertical is now working closely
with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as it rigorously
evaluates the engineering, design, test data and aircraft ahead of
issuing a Permit to Fly, effectively conducting a “mini
certification” programme. Vertical will then begin a robust flight
test programme at the Vertical Flight Test Centre, with a focus on
achieving piloted flight.
Vertical is currently developing an identical full-scale
prototype which will accelerate the VX4’s flight test programme and
demonstration capability. The company will take flight test
learnings from both prototypes into the design and development of
the certified VX4 model.
Key new features of the latest full-scale VX4 prototype:
- Aerospace partner technology and certification expertise
– 60% of the technology and components included on the latest
aircraft are from world leading aerospace partners, up from 10% on
the previous prototype. This makes it Vertical’s most advanced
prototype yet and a step closer to the aircraft that the company
will take through to certification.
- First use of battery designed and built for aviation –
This battery and powertrain system, developed at the Vertical
Energy Centre, is the most powerful and lightest yet, has rapid
charge time and multiple backup power sources. The VX4’s batteries
are designed to meet the performance, safety, operational and
commercial requirements of eVTOL and it is the first time its own
proprietary batteries have been used on a full-scale prototype. The
electronics, software and design of the battery have all been
developed in house and the new aircraft includes new, more powerful
Electronic Propulsion Units.
- Next generation propellers – Vertical’s new proprietary
propellers designed specifically for eVTOLs are optimised for low
noise and made of carbon fibre composite using a single-shot cure
process to maximise integrity. The aerodynamic shape has been
specifically designed to maximise performance across both hover and
cruise by deconflicting the requirements of each phase of
flight.
Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Vertical,
commented: “Our goal is to build the safest and most advanced
aircraft in this new category of transport. With the new full-scale
VX4 prototype, which has been built by combining our own
world-leading technology with that from leading aerospace partners,
we are well on the way to achieving that goal.
“This is a critical step on our road to certification and
commercialisation and, while there is more to do, the support of
our partners and our $6 billion order book shows the trust and
confidence the industry has in our outstanding product. We are
excited to start our robust, test flight programme at our Flight
Test Centre as we continue our focus on achieving piloted
flight.”
Dave Stepanek, Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation
Officer, Bristow Group: “As one of the world’s largest
helicopter operators, we’re excited to be collaborating with
Vertical as they work to bring the VX4 to market. We are delighted
to see the progress being made with this latest prototype.”
David Shilliday, Vice President and General Manager, Unmanned
Aerial Systems / Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace
Technologies: "The VX4 is testament to what can be achieved
when industry leaders join forces to pioneer the future of air
mobility. This electric aircraft benefits from the Honeywell Anthem
flight deck and software, as well as a state-of-the-art fly-by-wire
system. This enables the pilot or autopilot to manoeuvre the
aircraft safely and simply, ensuring a smooth journey.”
Notes to editors:
About the VX4
The VX4 Type Certification safety target is the same as for
commercial airliners and 100 times safer than small single engine
helicopters. It is quiet when in cruise - its 50dBA output is lower
than normal background noise levels in an urban environment - and
has zero operating emissions.
It is designed to be piloted, carry four passengers and has a
range of up to 100 miles. The VX4 journey time from Battersea in
London to Heathrow will be 8 minutes and Miami to Fort Lauderdale
11 minutes.
Recent Vertical news:
- Vertical recently announced that the scope of its Design
Organisation Approval (DOA) has been expanded by the CAA, showing
further confidence from the regulator in Vertical’s engineering
capability as it progresses towards Type Certification. At the same
time, the CAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have
also agreed how they will collaborate on Vertical’s VX4
certification activities.
- Vertical’s highly skilled Test Team has led a comprehensive
programme of system and component testing using the latest
technology to ensure our next-generation VX4 prototype is as safe
and efficient as possible, including:
- Vertical was one of the first eVTOL companies to carry out a
drop test on its battery in 2020, and this latest model is the
fifth iteration since the company was formed. Vertical has
completed all battery safety testing for the CAA for this latest
prototype – crash, thermal runaway, vibration, electronic hardware
and software tests, including over 1.2 million hours of cell
testing and nearly 3,000 hours of pack and module testing.
- As part of the performance and safety validations for piloted
permit to fly approvals with the CAA, Vertical has successfully
conducted a spectrum of testing including aerodynamic, noise,
static loading, impact and fatigue tests, including nearly 50
million limit-load fatigue cycles on the propeller blades.
- The Vertical Integrated Test Lab (VITL), also known as the
'Iron Bird', conducted 2,700 hours of testing across real aircraft
hardware and flight control computers to verify how our proprietary
technology performs alongside that of our aerospace partners.
- Thermal, dynamic and endurance performance verification of both
our bespoke forward and aft propeller assemblies on our new
high-performance Electric Propulsion Units.
- Completed structural tests demonstrating the aircraft
structures can sustain the limit load in flight.
Vertical’s leading aerospace partners:
- Honeywell – Vertical is collaborating with Honeywell on
the ‘brains’ of the aircraft. It provides flight control computers,
avionics and flight control software. The flight control system
enables the pilot or autopilot to manoeuvre the aircraft safely and
simply, and Honeywell’s Anthem Avionics suite includes the displays
and electronic hardware.
- Hanwha - Hanwha Aerospace is Korea’s leading private
aerospace company with a broad portfolio ranging from space to jet
engines and brings long-established aerospace technology and
flight-critical actuator systems expertise. It provides all the VX4
electro-mechanical actuators and mechanisms including tilt and
pitch change for the front propellers and aerodynamic control
surface actuators.
- Leonardo – As well as being a leading helicopter
manufacturer, Leonardo was one of the pioneers in composite
fuselage manufacture, making the most complex sections on the
Boeing 787. Leonardo has manufactured the composite fuselage and
pylons for the VX4 Prototype.
- Syensqo - Syensqo (formerly Solvay) is one of three
major aerospace composite manufacturers, their composite material
has been used for the VX4 prototypes.
- GKN – GKN specialises in composite wings and empennages
and has provided Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (wiring
harness) on all the VX4 prototypes.
- Molicel – Molicel has spent decades developing high
performance Lithium-Ion cylindrical cells and its latest P45
battery cell will power the VX4. It is already in mass manufacture,
critical for the VX4 to achieve certification.
- Dassault Systèmes - Provides the leading integrated
aircraft design software used by all major airframers.
Piloted flight test programme explainer:
- Tethered: the VX4 will perform stabilised hover while
loosely tethered to the ground.
- Untethered: the VX4 will hover without a tether.
- Thrustborne: the VX4 will take-off and land vertically
and conduct low speed flight manoeuvres with lift generated by the
propellers.
- Wingborne: the VX4 will take-off, fly and land like a
conventional aircraft, with lift generated by the wing.
- Transition: The VX4 will transition between thrustbourne
and wingbourne flight, and vice versa.
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company
pioneering electric aviation.
Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel.
Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical
Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating
emissions. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace
companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing
its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the
world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.
Vertical has 1,500 pre-orders of the VX4 worth $6bn, with
customers across four continents, including Virgin Atlantic,
American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered
in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical
was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO
Group, Europe’s largest independent energy retailer.
Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier
automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM
and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported
over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion
systems.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future
events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements as
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of
the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in
this press release that are not statements of historical fact may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the
VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy
and plans and objectives of management for future operations,
including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on
timelines projected, selection of suppliers, certification and the
commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory
certification of our aircraft product with any of our intended
regulators on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and
plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the
differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations
surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of
operations and financial position and expected financial
performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and
profitability strategies, our plans to mitigate the risk that we
are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital
expenditures, as well as statements that include the words
“expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,”
“estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,”
“potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of
a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are
neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our
limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype
aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our history of
losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and
continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL
aircraft being in a relatively early stage; our potential inability
to produce, certify or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines
projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary
certifications for production and operation within any projected
timeline, or at all; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL
aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and
suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational
needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not
materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the
preorders received are conditional and may be terminated at any
time and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon
certain specified dates; any circumstances; the inability for our
aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential
defects; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth;
our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other
highly skilled personnel, our ability to raise additional funds
when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our
limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our
operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as
contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue
as a going concern; and the other important factors discussed under
the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March
14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our
other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof
and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240717866105/en/
Justin Bates, Head of Communications
justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357 463
Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs
samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7816 459 904
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL)
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