Vertical Aerospace has completed a second flight with its VX4 prototype.

      The creation of an electric air taxi relies less on a singular impressive first flight and more on the repetition of flights to gain regulatory approval. Vertical Aerospace has recently introduced a second aircraft to accelerate this process.

      On Tuesday, the Bristol-based company announced that its latest full-scale prototype successfully completed its first piloted flight at its flight test center in the UK, with test pilot Paul Stone in control at 8:49 BST on June 5.

      This flight was made possible by a new Permit to Fly issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, following comprehensive ground testing. This milestone effectively doubles Vertical's flight test capabilities, while the first prototype continues its testing program.

      This isn't Vertical's initial experience with flight. The company conducted its first untethered test flight in 2023, made European history with a piloted wingborne flight last year, and achieved a complete two-way transition between vertical and winged flight in April, joining a select group of developers capable of this maneuver.

      The objective of the new aircraft is to increase volume. Having two aircraft flying simultaneously allows for quicker data gathering, and this prototype is the last one Vertical will introduce before its Critical Design Review, a key milestone that solidifies a certifiable design and clears the path for building the first pre-production aircraft.

      “Bringing our latest prototype into flight testing is a significant milestone as it enables us to learn more rapidly in real-world conditions and maintain momentum towards certification,” stated Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “Expanding our flight test fleet will help us validate the aircraft more quickly, mitigate risk, and efficiently progress towards introducing Valo into service.”

      After completing all testing phases in its fully electric form, Vertical intends to retrofit the aircraft for hybrid-electric flight. This variant is designed to cater to the longer ranges and heavier payloads demanded by defense and logistics clients, serving as a complement to the four-passenger Valo air taxi that the company is getting certified first.

      Vertical claims to have approximately 1,500 pre-orders for the Valo from clients including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, and Brazil's GOL; however, similar to all order books in this industry, these are conditional commitments rather than guaranteed sales.

      The context is challenging. Vertical is pursuing American competitors Joby and Archer, who are both further along in U.S. certification, amid a harsh landscape: at least six eVTOL manufacturers, including once-prominent companies like Lilium and Volocopter, have declared bankruptcy since 2023 due to the costs and complexities of certification.

      Vertical has also faced its own challenges, pushing its CAA certification timeline to the end of 2026, about two years later than initially anticipated, and dealing with a patent lawsuit from Archer earlier this year.

      The addition of the second prototype offers Vertical a faster pace. More aircraft lead to more flight hours and quicker validation, enabling a credible attempt at the design review that transitions a testing program into a certifiable product. The more daunting issues—funding commercial service and navigating a constantly shifting regulatory landscape—are ones the entire sector continues to grapple with.

      Nevertheless, incorporating a functioning aircraft into the fleet, along with the public displays it entails, represents the kind of consistent progress that keeps an eVTOL company competitive rather than sidelined.