The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued a Permit to Fly for Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 prototype, enabling the company to begin Phase 4 — Transition piloted flight testing and exercise the prototype’s defining transition manoeuvre. The approval advances the VX4’s flight-test programme toward planned certification and commercialisation.
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Briefing
Enables the critical piloted transition milestone: the CAA permit clears VX4 to validate its defining transition manoeuvre in Phase 4, a necessary step in proving operational capability.
Builds on successful flight-test progress: this follows completion of Phase 3 wingborne tests, which reported performance above expectations and set up piloted-transition trials. (https://hype.aero/?story=6eeba566-7b28-4fa4-87db-51c4ce95066d)
Advances certification and commercialisation plans: the regulatory step adds momentum to Vertical’s pathway toward its stated 2028 certification timeline and its parallel efforts to secure industrial partners and regulatory expertise. (https://hype.aero/?story=20c963db-44d8-4265-a2c6-5f44d8078a04) (https://hype.aero/?story=c7c81d90-7d68-46f5-83f1-10036d80d375)
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(NL) Vertical begins transition tests with unmanned VX4 • pilootenvliegtuig.nl
Vertical's VX4 Production Platform Secures UK CAA Permit to Fly • flightplan.forecastinternational.com
Vertical Aerospace wins CAA Phase 4 approval, targets VX4 piloted transition flight by end‑2025 • aerospaceglobalnews.com
Vertical Mag
• News Release