Vertical Aerospace charts path to 2028 certification after flight test milestone
With successful piloted flight, the UK-based firm advances toward commercial operations and defence applications.
British electric aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace completed Europe's first piloted wingborne flight of an eVTOL aircraft in open airspace on May 22, CEO Stuart Simpson announced at SXSW London. This comes as the urban air mobility sector increasingly broadens beyond passenger services to defence and emergency applications.
The VX4 prototype flight, conducted from Cotswold Airport under UK Civil Aviation Authority oversight, represents a key milestone in the company's certification efforts ahead of planned commercial operations in 2028.
Speaking to FlightGlobal's Deputy Editor Dominic Perry at SXSW's inaugural European event, Simpson said it "went better than anticipated" and positions Vertical as the only company globally operating a piloted winged eVTOL prototype under a Design Organisation Approval from the CAA, a requirement for commercial certification.
Beyond helicopters: the eVTOL advantage
Simpson highlighted key advantages over traditional helicopters that make eVTOLs more suitable for urban operations.
While helicopters require extensive maintenance and are available for flight only about half the year, eVTOLs need minimal servicing due to fewer moving parts and more reliable electric systems.
"Helicopters are highly complex, highly stressed mechanical systems," Simpson explained at SXSW. The environmental impact also differs dramatically; eVTOLs are designed to be zero-emission and operate much more quietly than helicopters, making them more acceptable to urban regulators and residents who oppose helicopter operations in cities.
As another essential proof point, Simpson also emphasised that eVTOLs are being designed to commercial airline safety standards.
Dual strategy targets multiple markets
Vertical Aerospace is pursuing a two-track development approach with all-electric and hybrid-electric variants.
The electric version offers a 100-mile range for urban transportation, while the hybrid variant extends range to potentially 1,000 miles by combining battery power with a gas turbine generator for silent takeoff and landing with turbine-powered cruise flight.
Simpson positioned the core electric product as a solution to urban gridlock. "Global megacities are getting hugely congested," he told the SXSW audience, citing New York, São Paulo, and Seoul, where traditional ground transportation has reached capacity limits.
The CEO outlined plans for mass transit pricing comparable to premium ride-sharing services like Uber Black. However, such affordability projections have become standard across the eVTOL industry, with multiple companies making similar claims despite high development costs and a lack of proven commercial operations.
Emergency services and defence applications
Simpson described emergency services as a major opportunity during his SXSW discussion, outlining applications in medical transport and search-and-rescue operations that could benefit from the hybrid variant's extended range.
According to Simpson, eVTOLs would complement rather than replace existing air ambulance services.
The company has also begun evaluating defence applications, citing low noise and heat signatures that make eVTOLs suitable for military missions. Competitors Archer Aviation, BETA Aviation, and Joby Aviation have secured defence contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, reflecting the industry's search for viable revenue streams as initial passenger transport timelines face delays.
Financial efficiency vs. competition
According to TechCrunch, Vertical Aerospace has raised $468.8 million to date, which is less than that of its U.S. competitors, including Joby Aviation ($2.82 billion), Archer Aviation ($3.36 billion), and Beta Technologies ($1.15 billion).
The company reported annual spending of approximately $100 million compared to $400-600 million for major rivals.
Simpson also told the SXSW audience that the company has sufficient funding through 2025, indicating that additional fundraising efforts are already underway.
The path to certification
Vertical has completed over 30 piloted flights since July 2024, becoming one of the few companies globally to achieve piloted thrustborne flight manoeuvres with a full-scale vectored thrust eVTOL. According to Simpson, the company is progressing through four testing phases: tethered, thrustborne, wingborne, and transition flights.
The UK government has committed to having eVTOL regulations in place by 2028, supporting Vertical's certification timeline. The company targets type certification in 2028 and commercial service launch in late 2028 or early 2029 in the UK, U.S., and worldwide.
Initial applications would focus on airport transfers, with Simpson citing routes like JFK Airport to Manhattan as primary use cases. The company has approximately 1,500 pre-orders from airlines, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow, though these orders are contingent on certification and performance specifications.
The VX4 is designed to carry four passengers plus a pilot, with the company planning to produce 700-1,000 aircraft annually by 2030. A third prototype is under construction, with hybrid flight testing planned for 2026.
Despite the big visions of the electric air taxi industry, many analysts remain sceptical, noting that no eVTOL company has yet achieved commercial certification or large-scale operations, despite attracting vast investment sums.
As a result, the next three years will prove critical as the industry works toward initial certifications and service launches. With companies like Vertical targeting 2028 certification and competitors advancing through similar timelines, the decade of development and billions in investment will soon face the ultimate test of market reality.