Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

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Charles Alcock

Vertical Aerospace has begun piloted transition flights with one of its full-scale prototypes for the VX4 eVTOL aircraft it intends to bring to market in 2028. The UK company announced the milestone on November 13, claiming to be the first eVTOL developer to achieve this stage in a flight test campaign under permit to fly oversight from its air safety regulator.
Conducted at its test site at Kemble Airport in the west of England,&nbsp;the flight&nbsp;marks the start of a critical new phase of testing that will evaluate multiple operational modes for both thrustborne and wingborne flight. Over the next few weeks, the company aims to conduct a series of 11 flights over which speeds will be increased and key systems, including the tilting propellers, will be evaluated.
While U.S. rivals such as Archer and Joby say they are close to achieving FAA type certification to begin commercial operations in 2026, Vertical insists the process it is going through with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority and EASA means that it is actually further advanced in the process. The company’s CEO, Stuart Simpson, told AIN that as his engineering team proceeds with the critical design review, the next VX4s it builds will be 100% production conforming.
According to the company, 75% of its supply chain is already in place, with prominent partners including GKN, Honeywell, and Leonardo. Simpson said that the remaining 25% of suppliers are still to be finalized but that key items, including the propulsion system, have been agreed upon but not yet publicly announced.
Vertical will build seven fully conforming VX4s, with five of these to be used for piloted flight tests and “real-world” demonstrations, including appearances at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2026. “Once we begin the piloted transition flight testing, we will have met a very high [regulatory] bar, and will have flown to a higher bar than anyone else in the world,” Simpson insisted.
<h2>More People, Plus Baggage</h2>
Another differentiator that Vertical believes gives it an edge in the emerging advanced air mobility sector is the fact that the VX4 will be able to carry six passengers, rather than being limited to the four seats that are standard for the majority of other eVTOL models. Revealing cabin designs during its third-quarter financial results briefing on November 4, the company underlined that each passenger will also be able to take 70 pounds of luggage on board.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-img">
<img alt="VX4 eVTOL cabin interior " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="614bc9ed-1aad-4053-b8d7-6c03026acf49" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/VX4%20Interior%20Render%20%283%29.PNG" width="1530" height="860" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>The cabin of Vertical’s VX4 eVTOL will have room for six passengers, and each will be able to board with 70 pounds of luggage.</figcaption>
</figure>

The latter point is significant given that scheduled commercial carriers make up the backbone of Vertical’s reported 1,500 preorders. Operators such as American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Brazil’s GOL are expected to use the VX4 for airport connections, as are anticipated customers for leasing group Avolon, while the Bristow group is planning to replace some of its helicopter fleet.
Simpson told AIN that the imperative to deliver a higher (albeit undisclosed) maximum takeoff weight than competitors has been driven by its customers. “We didn’t start out as a Silicon Valley start-up; we started out as an aerospace company,” he said, making the case that Vertical’s engineering team has been tasked with achieving levels of performance the company believes will only be achieved by rivals in second-generation products.
For instance, it has conducted more than five million hours of tests to select the pair of energy cells it is using in the VX4’s battery packs. Simpson said it is already testing newer cells that will be available to further boost payload and/or range in the years to come.
According to Vertical, the ability to carry two more passengers than other eVTOL air taxis gives operators the potential to boost revenues by 50%. Based on 40-mile sectors and load factors of between 70% and 100%, the company reported that gross margins could be up to 67% (compared with a maximum of 53% in rival aircraft) and with gross annual operating profits more than doubled.
Vertical has confirmed that it is working on plans for a hybrid-electric aircraft with greater payload and range to support what Simpson referred to as “premium logistics” business models. This aircraft could also be offered for military applications.

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