Vertical Unveils Full-Sized eVTOL Model Ahead of SPAC Vote

In a tweet, the company said, “We’re excited to reveal our new full-scale #eVTOL model, a glimpse into the future of Vertical.” Dubbing it the “VX4,” the company said the aircraft was designed in partnership with Rolls-Royce and Honeywell. (A previous design displayed on its website had been referred to by Vertical Aerospace as the “VA-X4.”)

According to Vertical, the aircraft would be a 200 mph, single-pilot, four-passenger eVTOL with a noise level 100 times quieter than a helicopter in cruise. The company says it will have a range of more than 100 miles. 

Vertical has said it hopes to have the aircraft type certificated by 2024 with Heathrow Airport in London serving as an infrastructure launch partner.

The news comes just days before Vertical is expected to merge with special purpose acquisition company Broadstone Acquisition Corp. (NYSE:BSN) on Tuesday, when shareholders are scheduled to vote. The combined company could go public on the New York Stock Exchange as early as Thursday and would be listed as “EVTL.” 

If approved, Vertical will become the fourth eVTOL company to go public this year, all using SPACs. The others are Joby, Archer, and Lilium.

In June, Vertical announced it would go public in a deal valued up to $2.2 billion, bolstered by a robust list of more than 1,350 pre-orders totalling $5.4 billion, with the deal potentially yielding proceeds upwards of $394 million. But it’s unclear just how much Vertical will net, as its competitors saw disappointing results in their own mergers this summer.  

Vertical’s announcement is just the latest development in the emerging eVTOL industry—aimed at creating small, hovering, zero-emissions aircraft able to fly passengers short distances over traffic-congested urban areas. 

Investment company Morgan Stanley earlier this year projected the eVTOL market could be valued at more than $1 trillion by 2040.