Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace (www.vertical-aerospace.com), a designer and manufacturer of vertical take-off and landing electrically powered aircraft (eVTOL), has appointed Tim Williams to the role of chief engineer to help drive the company towards its vision of ‘electric flight for everyone’.

Formerly a chief engineer at Rolls-Royce, he will be responsible for leading the development of Vertical’s new eVTOL aircraft; this will be the third prototype built by the company, as it seeks to achieve certification by 2024. Once certified, the aircraft will have a range of 100 miles at speeds of 150mph, carrying four passengers and a pilot.

Mr Williams brings 34 years’ of aerospace experience to the Vertical team and has a proven track record leading large teams in developing and delivering new products, as well as supporting established products in service. During his time at Rolls-Royce, his positions included chief design engineer and chief project engineer. For the past 10 years, he was chief engineer, accountable for a wide range of combat, transport and helicopter engines.

Mr Williams said: “As we enter the next stage of aviation, developing on-demand carbon-free air transport to tackle the world’s urban mobility challenge, I am thrilled to join Vertical Aerospace — a company at the forefront in developing the technology that will be needed. I have been particularly impressed with what the company has achieved in its short history.”

Vertical Aerospace is continuing to work alongside aviation authorities around the world and to build strategic aerospace partnerships — like the one with Honeywell, which is developing the flight controller for Vertical’s latest aircraft.

Picture courtesy Vertical Aerospace