Vertical Aerospace is confident that it will wrap up the crucial final stage of its VX4 flight-testing – the piloted transition – by the end of this year.

The aircraft has already undertaken vertical flight, flying at up to 30kt, and conventional wingborne flight at speeds down to 70kt – just above stall.

“We’re only proving out what happens in this period between 30kt and 70kt when you’re flying on the wing,” said chief executive Stuart Simpson, speaking during a first-half briefing on 5 August. “That’s the bit of data we’re gathering.”

He says the company has “done everything” on the flight-test profile except the 20-30s period on the transition and the deceleration to landing, adding that the full transition testing is “absolutely on track” for the fourth quarter of this year.

“What we have is a huge truck with a big pylon on it, that’s driving up and down a runway at high speed, with our tilt actuators on the front covered in sensors,” he states.

Data from the vehicle tests enable the company to verify its models and support regulatory assessment.

VX4 underside-c-Vertical Aerospace

Achieving full piloted transition, says Simpson, will be a “huge unlock” because it will have “proved the concept of our aircraft”.

“We’ve done everything with it then,” he says. “We’re literally then into the shrink-wrap and beautification of the product.”

Vertical Aerospace is building a third and final prototype, set to fly before the end of this year, and has initiated manufacture of its first certification aircraft which will be ready for testing around December 2026.

The third prototype, an exact copy of the second, will double the flight-test capacity for the electric aircraft while also serving, next year, as the platform for a hybrid-powered version of the VX4.

Vertical Aerospace has been co-operating closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is aiming to secure expanded approvals which will include flight privileges allowing the company to issue its own flight permits, removing the individual oversight so far needed for each phase.

The firm has also unveiled a partnership with Spanish-based specialist Aciturri, covering the VX4’s primary aerostructures – including fuselage, wing, empennage and pylons – complementing its agreement with Honeywell for flight-control systems.

Simpson says other elements of the supply chain will be “locked in” to produce the first certification aircraft.

This will be the first VX4 that will allow people to “really be able to see how this looks”, he states, adding: “We’ve initiated production of the [certification] aircraft, with long-range parts purchasing, continuing strong momentum with partners.”





Source link

Posted in
Uncategorized
Related Posts
Limousine Comments are Closed

Plan the perfect NYC Memorial Day weekend

Pack only what you need and avoid overpacking to streamline the check-in and security screening…

News Comments are Closed

LA’s worst traffic areas and how to avoid them

Consider using alternative routes, such as Sepulveda Boulevard, which runs parallel to the 405 in…

Vertical Aerospace nears transition tests to fill final gap in VX4 flight profile

Vertical Aerospace is confident that it will wrap up the crucial final stage of its…

Pitch-up command after bounced landing preceded Aer Lingus A321LR tail-strike

Irish investigators believe a sudden pitch-up input during a bounced landing resulted in an Aer…

France puts Rafale fighter’s F4.3-standard updates through early assessment | News

Elements of the Dassault Aviation Rafale’s future F4.3 operating standard have undergone early assessment by…

A380 flight computers updated after ‘erroneous’ soft-thrust command on take-off

Airbus has developed a flight-computer software update for A380s after a training flight incident in…

ITA Airways, United secure approval for codeshare partnership | News

ITA Airways is working to establish a codeshare relationship with United Airlines, following last month’s…

Martinair A350F trimmed from Air France-KLM backlog

One of KLM cargo division Martinair’s Airbus A350 freighters has been dropped from the carrier’s…

Safran aims to recover Leap delivery backlog to Airbus by end-October

Safran is aiming to recover the backlog of CFM International Leap-1A engine deliveries to Airbus…

Indonesian Aerospace expands cooperation with Turkish defence industry after ordering 48 TAI Kaan fighters

Indonesian Aerospace has deepened ties with Turkey’s defence aerospace industry amid Jakarta’s plans to obtain…

Angara maintenance certificate revoked following inspection after An-24 crash

Russian federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia has revoked the maintenance certificate of Siberia’s Angara Airlines,…

Post a comment

Your email address will not be published.