FLYING TAXIS
UK FLYING TAXI MAKES HISTORY WITH CROSS COUNTRY ELECTRIC FLIGHT
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based pioneer in electric flying taxis, has made European aviation history with the successful piloted “wing- borne” flight of its VX4 prototype across the UK country-side. The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft soared over the Cotswolds last week before performing a conventional landing at a nearby airport, mark- ing a significant stride towards the commercial deployment of this sustainable air travel technology. The VX4 is designed to revolutionise urban travel, with Vertical Aerospace claiming it will be capable of transporting passengers from Battersea to Heathrow in just 12 minutes. The company aims for initial flights carrying four passengers up to 100 miles by 2028.
Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Vertical. Breakthroughs like this show
how government and
business can work together to keep the UK at the cutting edge of innovation.” The landmark flight, approved by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after an extensive safety documentation review,
follows
Vertical’s successful piloted hover flight earlier this year. Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical
Aerospace, stated: “Achieving piloted wingborne flight in open airspace under the oversight of the UK CAA is an important moment in our certification journey.” He highlighted that operating under the UK’s rigorous regulatory framework means we share the burden of safety with our regulator, “It amounts to a mini certification of our prototype and gives us a clearer, faster path to type certification.” Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, who helmed the VX4, expressed his satisfaction with the aircraft: “The firm’s performance predictions had been absolutely spot on, and the aircraft took off as a natural extension of all the ground tests and preparation we’ve done.” He concluded: “The VX4 was not only safe but was an absolute pleasure.”
LA28 AIMS FOR CAR-FREE OLYMPICS WITH AIR TAXIS PRICED LIKE UBER LUX
2028 Olympics Games organisers have unveiled an ambitious plan to take to the skies. LA28, the committee planning the event, has partnered with aerospace firm Archer Aviation, to deploy a fleet of electric air taxis, intending to divert Olympic traffic upwards. Archer’s eVTOL aircraft will offer swift 10-20-minute flights between a network of “vertiports” located across the city at key venues such as SoFi Stadium, LAX, and hubs spanning from Santa Monica to Orange County.
These air taxis will cater to both spectators and VIPs, providing a
60
bypass for LA’s notorious traffic congestion when travelling between sporting events. These cutting-edge aircraft are a key component of LA28’s broader vision for a “car-free” Olympics, an initiative designed to
better
manage the anticipated 15 million attendees and advance towards more sustainable future transport. LA28 Chairperson and President Archer Aviation CEO, Adam Goldstein, highlighted the accessibility, enhanced safety and quietness of Archer’s
four-
passenger eVTOL aircraft com- pared to traditional helicopters,
noting: “There’s a reason wealthy and famous people use helicopters - they’re extremely convenient.” While the exact cost of the air taxi rides hasn’t been revealed, Goldstein aims for pricing comparable to a “high-end ride share such as Uber Lux.” Similar to Uber, ride requests will be managed through an app. With a projected fleet of 50 vehicles for the 2028 Games, demand is expected to be high. Beyond transporting attendees, Archer’s air taxis will also provide crucial emergency services and security support during the games.
JUNE 2025 PHTM
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