Britain has conducted its first-ever air taxi flight after an electric aircraft took a cross-country trip over the Cotswolds.
The prototype VX4 electric aircraft, designed to be capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter, made the conventional “wing-borne” flight in open airspace for the first time.
The aircraft, flown by pilot Simon Davies and developed by Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace, took off and landed using Cotswolds Airport’s runway after receiving approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The flight marked the first time the aircraft had flown in normal airspace outside of strict test conditions.
Mr Davies said: “Taking the aircraft beyond the airfield and cruising over the Cotswolds for the first time was truly special and a career highlight for me.
“Our performance predictions were absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we’ve done.”
Vertical Aerospace is among a cluster of companies developing what have been dubbed flying taxis, which can ferry passengers in quiet, zero-emissions aircraft in or between urban areas. The Government has set a target to make flying taxis a reality by 2028.
Rivals have undertaken test flights in Dubai and the US, but Vertical Aerospace’s flight is the first time a flying taxi has performed a journey in open airspace in Europe. The start-up previously carried out a hover test of its aircraft in January.
Founded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Ovo Energy entrepreneur, Vertical Aerospace has received millions of pounds in UK government funding to develop the VX4, as well as raising tens of millions of pounds from private investors.
The aircraft is designed to take off vertically or on a runway, with its propellers either holding it in a hovering pattern or tilting to operate more like a traditional light aircraft.
It can carry one pilot and four passengers, and offers a range of up to 100 miles and speeds of 150mph.
The VX4’s next major test flight will seek to demonstrate its vertical take-off capabilities and its shift from hovering to cruising using its wings.
Earlier this year, the start-up received a £70m bailout from Mudrick Capital, a US investment fund, with Mr Fitzpatrick ceding control of the business as part of the rescue plan.
The business said it had cash reserves of £65m following the deal but needs to raise fresh funding to avoid running out of cash within a year.