Photo: Vertical Aerospace
A top-level sustainable propeller project supported by the UK government puts electric air taxi maker Vertical Aerospace at the forefront. The eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) company is already working on an even better and stronger version of its flagship aircraft.
Industry experts predict that the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) market will be worth billions in the next decades, and every major player around the globe wants a piece of the action. Cooperation is key when it comes to an emerging sector like eVTOL-based air mobility. No one can do it on their own because there's no foundation to build upon - everything is being developed from scratch, starting with the legal framework.
This is why government support is essential in most cases, and the UK seems determined to play its part.The most recent ATI (Aerospace Technology Institute) program, managed in cooperation with Innovate UK, brings together an eVTOL maker and several prestigious institutions with the goal of developing the best electric aircraft propeller technology out there. Three universities (Glasgow, Bristol, Cranfield) and the helicopter monitoring specialist Helitune will support Vertical Aerospace in developing a new and improved version of the VX4's propulsion system.
According to Vertical, the final version of the propulsion system is expected to be better than the current one in terms of lower weight, noise, and inertia. Plus, it claims to meet the highest safety standards of everything on the market right now.
Through the ATI Program, this bold propeller project is getting a total of £20 million ($25.3 million), out of which £8 million ($10 million) is going to Vertical. So far, the eVTOL maker has received nearly $50 million (£37 million) in government funding from the UK.
Vertical also has a leading position in terms of pre-orders. Through its collaboration with the reputable lessor Avolon, the UK-based aviation company sold 500 units in less than a year, worth almost $2 billion in total. By 2023, it had secured pre-orders for more than 1,400 aircraft.
This new financing success comes after another huge milestone when Vertical launched a top-notch battery facility. It's named the Vertical Energy Center (VEC), and it unfolds over 15,000 square feet (1,393 square meters). What's interesting about this battery facility is that it's exclusively dedicated to aerospace applications, where safety and performance standards and difficulties are higher compared to other vehicles.
This is where Vertical is developing a 220Wh/kg battery system for the VX4. This air taxi promises a top speed of more than 200 mph (325 kph) and a 100-mile range (161 km), paired with fast charging for more frequent flights.
Backed by serious funding, Vertical has the potential to become the UK's top eVTOL maker. The VX4 air taxi is set to enter commercial service as soon as next year, following live demonstration flights at the highly-anticipated Osaka World Expo in Japan.
This is why government support is essential in most cases, and the UK seems determined to play its part.The most recent ATI (Aerospace Technology Institute) program, managed in cooperation with Innovate UK, brings together an eVTOL maker and several prestigious institutions with the goal of developing the best electric aircraft propeller technology out there. Three universities (Glasgow, Bristol, Cranfield) and the helicopter monitoring specialist Helitune will support Vertical Aerospace in developing a new and improved version of the VX4's propulsion system.
According to Vertical, the final version of the propulsion system is expected to be better than the current one in terms of lower weight, noise, and inertia. Plus, it claims to meet the highest safety standards of everything on the market right now.
Through the ATI Program, this bold propeller project is getting a total of £20 million ($25.3 million), out of which £8 million ($10 million) is going to Vertical. So far, the eVTOL maker has received nearly $50 million (£37 million) in government funding from the UK.
Vertical also has a leading position in terms of pre-orders. Through its collaboration with the reputable lessor Avolon, the UK-based aviation company sold 500 units in less than a year, worth almost $2 billion in total. By 2023, it had secured pre-orders for more than 1,400 aircraft.
This new financing success comes after another huge milestone when Vertical launched a top-notch battery facility. It's named the Vertical Energy Center (VEC), and it unfolds over 15,000 square feet (1,393 square meters). What's interesting about this battery facility is that it's exclusively dedicated to aerospace applications, where safety and performance standards and difficulties are higher compared to other vehicles.
This is where Vertical is developing a 220Wh/kg battery system for the VX4. This air taxi promises a top speed of more than 200 mph (325 kph) and a 100-mile range (161 km), paired with fast charging for more frequent flights.
Backed by serious funding, Vertical has the potential to become the UK's top eVTOL maker. The VX4 air taxi is set to enter commercial service as soon as next year, following live demonstration flights at the highly-anticipated Osaka World Expo in Japan.
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