AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT 1.qxp_Finance 27/10/2021 11:50 Page 1
AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT
VERTICAL AEROSPACE
eVTOL and the Future of Business Flying (Part Three) Fabrizio Poli concludes his overview of the electrical Vertical Take-Off & Landing (eVTOL) market, similar flying machines, and how they fit into the future of business flying.
P
reviously, we considered some of the similarities when it comes to eVTOL development with the Very Light Jet (VLJ) craze at the start of the millennium. We also discussed where eVTOLs might fit into the market once the leading projects in development overcome the many barriers to certification. With hundreds of eVTOL programs being developed, last month we profiled three of the leading programs. Following, we outline a few more…
Vertical Aerospace
Based in Bristol, UK, Vertical Aerospace says its VA-X4 model, priced at roughly $4m, is zero emissions and very quiet, and will be able to carry four passengers and a pilot more than 100 miles at more than 200mph. Aircraft leasing company Avolon will be the biggest launch customer, with a conditional order for as many as 500 VA-X4s, valued at $2bn. Virgin Atlantic also has options to buy 150, with a 44 Vol 25 Issue 11 2021 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
view to establishing a branded network within the UK. According to Shai Weiss, the Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, the airline will be exploring a joint venture “to bring short-haul, electric vehicle connectivity to cities and our UK airport hubs, starting with London Heathrow as well as Manchester and London Gatwick”. The aircraft could be used to transfer passengers between home and airports, Virgin believes. It would be able, for example, to make the 56-mile journey from Cambridge to Heathrow in 22 minutes, compared with a 90-minute drive. American Airlines has also placed a conditional order for as many as 250, and will work on similar infrastructure in the US. Having formed strategic partnerships with firms such as Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, Vertical Aerospace plans to float after merging with Broadstone, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), with a value of $2.2bn. Microsoft is among its other investors. More information from https://vertical-aerospace.com/ www.AVBUYER.com
