From Hover Tests to Aerial Acrobatics: The Rise of the VX4 eVTOL
Today let me regale you with a tale of a craft so peculiar, you might think it was lifted right out of a sci-fi film. We're not talking about grandma's sedan or your neighbor's shiny new sports car – no, siree. This is about the VX4 eVTOL by Vertical Aerospace.
Have you ever witnessed an oversized drone buzzing through the sky? Well, if you haven’t, you're in for a visual treat. Vertical Aerospace has been hard at work testing this bad boy at Cotswold Airport. This isn’t your typical 'up, up and away' machine. It's an electric Vertical TakeOff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that has been making waves, or should I say, air currents?
Hitting the crisp air of Cotswold, the VX4 dazzled onlookers with its scintillating hover antics. Now, I know what you're thinking: 40 knots (that's roughly 46 mph for the miles-obsessed folks) isn't exactly pushing the needle into nosebleed speeds. But come on, it’s hovering! How many of your ground-bound vehicles can do that? Zilch, nada, none!
The most tantalizing tidbit? The craft, being in its toddler phase, was powered by generic electric motors. That's right! Rolls-Royce is still crafting the pièce de résistance propulsion system. And when Rolls is on it, you know it's going to be as posh as an afternoon tea with the Queen.
Beneath its wings, the VX4 is packed with Vertical's proprietary battery packs, straight out of Bristol. The battery temperatures and charge states behaved like exemplary students during the flight – no nasty surprises. Chief test pilot Justin Paines even remarked about its flight: “Rock-solid in stability and more precise than my grandmother's crochet needle." Alright, I might have made that last bit up, but you catch my drift.
The initial testing phase wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, though. In a subsequent flying fiesta, our airborne hero experienced a minor hiccup. A propeller developed a penchant for mischief and the craft made a less-than-elegant descent to Mother Earth. But as in any good tale, our protagonist rose stronger. With a swift diagnosis, the culprit was identified – a faulty propeller. No worries, though. The future iterations have dumped this early prototype prop for a sleeker, trouble-free model.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical's CEO, chimed in on the incident, saying that while no one likes to see their high-flying dreams take a dip, these tests are precisely for ironing out the wrinkles. We all know that with every hiccup, we're inching closer to perfection. And trust me, looking at all the work Vertical is putting into this project, perfection is just around the corner.
Now, the gossip mill tells me that another prototype is in the works. And this one is touted to be jam-packed with technological marvels from the heavy hitters: Honeywell, GKN Aerospace, and more. It's like the Avengers of aviation are assembling, and the VX4 is the ultimate superhero suit.
On the business side of things, South Korean mobility group Kakao has raised an intrigued eyebrow, hinting at an order for 50 of these flying wonders. And if the rumors are right, they are in cahoots with Vertical for some revolutionary air mobility service. Brace yourselves, the future of flying taxis might just be around the corner.
With Vertical Aerospace's ambition, unparalleled expertise, and some high-flying determination, the sky's not the limit—it's just the beginning. Buckle up, folks. We're in for an exhilarating ride!
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
