Vertical Aerospace

UK company Vertical Aerospace is going public through a SPAC, with backing from Microsoft, American Airlines, Avolon, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce and a bulging US$4 billion-dollar preorder book for as many as 1,000 of its VA-X4 eVTOL air taxis.

Hundreds of eVTOL companies are jostling for position as next-gen flying taxis approach their prime-time debut – but which of these futuristic aircraft will really take off? Sergio Cecutta talks us through his "Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index."

Britain's Vertical Aerospace is hoping to strike early as the age of the eVTOL air taxi begins to dawn. Last week it unveiled its new VA-1X tilt-rotor design, and we spoke to Chief Engineer Tim Williams about the aircraft, the tech and the timeline.

Moving on from the squat, chunky Seraph and its basic manned multirotor design, Britain's Vertical Aerospace has released designs for an upcoming five-seat tilt rotor air taxi it's calling the VA-1X that can take advantage of efficient winged flight.

With the ability to carry up to 250 kg of payload at speeds up to 80 km/h, the 12-rotor Seraph is Britain's leading electric VTOL air taxi candidate. Vertical Aerospace has released video of this chunky bird in flight.

Vertical Aerospace operating out of Bristol, UK, aims to bring on demand, emissions-free intercity air taxi services to the UK skies within four years. The company has nailed the first step in its bold plan by building and flying a fully electric vertical take off and landing aircraft recently.