Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 prototye completes world first public airport-to-airport flight, full-scale aircraft on display at RIAT

Vertical Aerospace has completed the world’s first airport-to-airport piloted flight by a full-scale, winged tilt-rotor eVTOL designed for commercial service. 

Following Flight Conditions and Permit to Fly approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the VX4 prototype flew 17 miles from Vertical’s Flight Test Center at Cotswold Airport, to RAF Fairford. It reached speeds of 115mph and flew at an altitude of 1,800ft.

The milestone also marked the aircraft’s first landing at a public location. It will now be on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the world’s largest military air show, from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday, July 20th.

Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, who flew the full scale VX4 prototype, said: “Flying the VX4 from airport to airport is a major milestone, and a powerful demonstration of the real-world capability of the aircraft.

“To bring it to RIAT, among some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, is a proud moment – and a powerful signal of the role that a new generation of aircraft will play in defence and special mission operations.”

Only electric aircraft to be showcased at the Royal International Air Tattoo

Vertical’s full scale VX4 prototype is the only electric aircraft presence at RIAT 2025 – as part of its broader strategy to unlock new hybrid-electric applications in defence, logistics, and special missions. 

With the recent launch of its hybrid-electric variant, Vertical says it is positioned to deliver cleaner, quieter, and more versatile aviation solutions for a range of government and military use cases.

The company’s second-generation hybrid-propulsion system, which has been in development for 18 months at the Vertical Energy Centre, will be retrofitted into one of the company’s VX4 full scale prototypes and is expected to commence flight testing in Q2 2026.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “RIAT is a global stage for the most advanced, mission-ready aerospace technology, and we’re proud to showcase how electric aviation will support the future of defence.

“Our hybrid-electric roadmap unlocks new capabilities for military operations, and Vertical’s RIAT presence reinforces our commitment to playing a meaningful role in the future of military and special mission aviation.”

About VX4 hybrid-electric variant

New long-range variant will be adapted from the all-electric VX4, targeted for certification to the highest safety standards in 2028:

• Range: Up to 1,000 miles, a 10-fold increase from its all-electric aircraft
• Payload: Configurable to carry up to 1,100 kilograms in the VX4’s class-leading airframe capacity
• Stealth advantages: Low noise and heat signatures make the hybrid variant well-suited for sensitive missions
• Crewed and uncrewed capabilities: Hybrid-electric technology capable of being deployed autonomously, remotely, or with a pilot. Uncrewed capabilities can be seamlessly integrated into the existing Flight Control System being developed by Honeywell
• Mission resilience: Built off the VX4’s industry-leading redundancy and damage tolerance, boosting confidence for mission-critical operations

With more than 200,000 visitors expected and participation from more than 25 nations, RIAT also offers Vertical a valuable platform to engage defence stakeholders, investors, and the global aerospace community on emerging opportunities.

RIAT is organised by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, with proceeds supporting aviation education and youth development.