Air Taxi Makes First Airport-to-Airport Flight

Air taxi developer Vertical Aerospace completed its first airport-to-airport piloted flight by its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.

The Vertical the VX4 prototype flew from the Vertical flight center at Cotswold Airport to the Royal International Air Tattoo, the home of the military air show a Royal Air Force stationThe 17-mile flight was approved by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority.

“Flying the VX4 from airport to airport is a major milestone, and a powerful demonstration of the real-world capability of the aircraft,” Simon Davies, the chief test pilot VX4 prototype, said in the announcement. “To bring it to RIAT, among some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, is a proud moment – and a powerful signal of the role that a new generation of aircraft will play in defense and special mission operations.”

The 17-mile flight was approved by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority.

The electric aerial vehicle flew at 1,800 feet with a top speed of 115 mph and was the flying vehicle’s first landing at a public location.

“Flying the VX4 from airport to airport is a major milestone, and a powerful demonstration of the real-world capability of the aircraft,” Simon Davies, the chief test pilot VX4 prototype, said in the announcement. “To bring it to RIAT, among some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, is a proud moment – and a powerful signal of the role that a new generation of aircraft will play in defense and special mission operations.”