Vertical Aerospace VX4

The VX4 is a tiltrotor eVTOL being developed by Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. Tethered test flights began in 2022 and the first full flight test was conducted in July 2023. Entry into service is planned for 2026 with certification expected to be granted by the CAA and EASA under SC-VTOL enhanced category.

Structure and Powertrain

The VX4 seats four passengers and a pilot inside the Solvay-supplied carbon composite airframe with large viewing windows. The aircraft features a high wing and a V-tail, with four tilting rotors mounted on the leading edge of the wing, and four stowable lift fans to the rear, all powered by a Rolls Royce all-electric powertrain and Molicel batteries. The VX4 has retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear. GKN are developing the electrical wiring interconnection systems and Hanwha Systems are to provide the tilt and pitch system.

Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) is the name given to this method of powering aircraft. No critical points of failure provide a high level of redundancy and will ensure safety onboard.

Specifications

Avionics

The VX4 is to feature a fly-by-wire flight control system with Honeywell developing the aircraft control system, flight deck technologies and pilot user interface. No autonomy is planned for the aircraft.