The UK government’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) this week awarded £8 million ($10 million) to support Vertical Aerospace’s efforts to bring its four-passenger VX4 eVTOL aircraft to market. The grant, which increases total government backing for the program to £37 million, will be used to complete the development of the lift-and-cruise vehicle’s propellers.
The new funding comes almost a month after Vertical’s founder and CEO, Stephen Fitzpatrick, provided a $50 million investment to sustain work on the VX4, for which the UK company aims to complete type certification by the end of 2026. This capital will be provided through a first tranche of $25 million in return for shares priced at $10 in a deal set to close by March, followed by a second payment of $25 million at a share price to be determined by July 31.
According to Vertical, it now has sufficient cash to support the program into the second quarter of 2025. The company is preparing to start flight testing a second VX4 prototype, which is being assembled at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in the UK.
The ATI funding for work on the VX4’s propellers will be conducted by a consortium that also includes the University of Glasgow, the University of Bristol, Cranfield University, and Helitune, a helicopter parts supplier. Bristol-based Vertical will lead this consortium, whose other members are set to receive £3.5 million in funding.
“The project will see advancements in rotor technologies vital to the success of eVTOL aircraft developed here in the UK, growing knowledge, skills, and capability in the process,” said Mark Scully, head of technology for propulsion and advanced systems at ATI. “Through this investment, the ATI program is enabling the development of ultra-efficient and cross-cutting technologies in a competitive global market expected to be worth £24 billion to the UK up to 2050, accelerating the delivery of zero-emission aircraft on our journey to Destination Zero.”
