VX4 completes piloted hover flight tests

Vertical Aerospace/VX4

Vertical completed its piloted thrustborne test phase, in which the VX4 took off, hovered, manoeuvred at low speed and landed vertically on propeller lift alone, under UK Civil Aviation Authority oversight. It followed tethered hover tests in September 2024 and preceded planned wingborne and transition flights.

• VX4 completed piloted thrustborne (hover-only) test phase under CAA supervision.
• Aircraft demonstrated vertical take-off, hover control, low-speed maneuvers and vertical landing.
• Milestone follows tethered tests in September 2024; wingborne and transition flights planned next.
• Advances toward transition-flight testing and eventual commercial air taxi operations in the UK.