Bristol-based
Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company that is ‘pioneering electric aviation’, has announced a long-term ‘strategic partnership’ with
Aciturri Aerostructures, which has nearly 50 years’ experience in commercial aircraft programmes, over 3,100 employees, and work centres in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, France and Morocco.
This collaboration will see Aciturri build the airframe for Vertical’s electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the VX4; this build will include the entire airframe, including the wing, empennage, pylons and fuselage of both the pre-production and, subject to certification, the aircraft that will enter into service. Aciturri will also have engineering responsibility for several structural components.
Stuart Simpson, Vertical Aerospace’s CEO, said: “As we accelerate toward commercialisation, the VX4 demands an airframe built specifically for the unique challenges of eVTOL and the highest levels of safety certification. As a leading, global supplier, Aciturri brings the world-class capability, agility, and technical excellence we need to turn great designs into great aircraft. Their proven track record makes them the ideal partner.”
Sustainable electric flightManuel Gonzalez Relaño, Aciturri Aerostructures’ CEO, added: “Aciturri and Vertical share a strong commitment to advancing the future of air mobility by redefining urban transport with sustainable electric flight. With Vertical’s position as Europe’s leading eVTOL company, we look forward to partnering together through development, certification, and production to deliver a globally exportable and commercially viable eVTOL aircraft.”
Mr Simpson also says this partnership reflects Vertical’s strategy of initiating production with ‘long-range parts purchasing’ a key element of the company’s Flightpath 2030 plan and follows the announcement of Vertical’s expanded partnership with Honeywell, which is supplying flight control and aircraft management systems for the VX4. He adds that this latest partnership also builds on Vertical recently completing its first airport to airport flights.
Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four-passenger eVTOL aircraft with zero operating emissions. Vertical, which will also be launching a hybrid-electric variant that offers increased range and ‘mission flexibility’, already has about 1,500 pre-orders for the VX4, with customers on four continents — including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow.