Vertical Aerospace announced that its full‑scale VX4 prototype has completed ten piloted transition flights since receiving its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority on November 13 2025. The flights expanded the transition envelope, covering acceleration and deceleration across a wide range of speeds and tilt positions, and demonstrated in‑flight deployment and stow of the rear propellers, spin‑up during wingborne flight, and prop‑hold functionality.
The achievement marks the final 10 % of the tilt‑transition that remains. With these flights, the company has proven that the aircraft can safely and reliably transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes under full CAA oversight, a prerequisite for the Special Condition VTOL (SC‑VTOL) certification that Vertical Aerospace targets for 2028.
The milestone is a key de‑risking event for the eVTOL market. By validating the complex tilt‑rotor technology, Vertical Aerospace strengthens its competitive position against rivals such as Lilium and EHang, and it bolsters confidence among its 1,500‑strong pre‑order book that includes American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines.
CEO Stuart Simpson said the progress “continues to make excellent progress as we close in on full piloted transition flight. Achieving this level of performance under CAA oversight is a major validation of our engineering approach and a critical milestone as we move toward certification.” He added that the upcoming Valo aircraft, which builds on the VX4 data, will bring the company from prototype developer to full‑scale manufacturer.
Looking ahead, the company expects to complete the remaining transition work in early 2026, after which it will begin the final certification testing phase. Vertical Aerospace has reaffirmed its 2028 SC‑VTOL target and is pursuing an estimated $700 million in funding to support the transition from prototype to production, while continuing to refine the hybrid‑electric variant to extend range and mission flexibility.
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