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Vertical Aerospace Shares Details on eVTOL Crash, Gears Up for Crewed Testing

The company explained what went wrong during the August accident, and it plans the next phase of testing for 2024.

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Key Takeaways:

  • Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL prototype crashed during uncrewed testing after a propeller blade failed due to degraded adhesive bonding, which subsequently caused an unexpected degradation of power to two motors via the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.
  • The company has identified the root causes and plans to address them with a new, upgraded prototype (Aircraft Two) expected to fly in early 2024, featuring redesigned propellers and enhanced safety systems.
  • Despite the incident and previous delays, Vertical Aerospace asserts its certification activities remain on schedule for a 2026 target, with crewed flights now slated for the new prototype.
  • While the company boasts a large order backlog, it faces significant financial challenges, possessing less cash on hand than major competitors and seeking additional capital to fund operations beyond mid-2024.
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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, awaiting the green light for entry into service, are going through the wringer of flight testing globally in the name of safety. So, on the rare occasion when one crashes, there will be some questions—and an ensuing investigation depending on where the accident occurred.

Vertical Aerospace, whose VX4 preproduction prototype eVTOL air taxi crashed during uncrewed testing last month, has some answers. The U.K.-based manufacturer on Thursday revealed what caused its aircraft to tumble from about 30 feet in the air onto the runway surface at Cotswold Airport (EGBP).

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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