Airlines order several hundred electric planes from Vertical Aerospace
” Electrification will transform flight at 21th century in the same way the jet engine did 70 years ago Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of Vertical Aerospace and co-founder of eVTOL, said in a statement. Two major airlines seem to agree with him since American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have just ordered several hundred VA-X4, an electric plane with vertical take-off, from Vertical Aerospace.
Vertical Aerospace to design nearly 1,000 VA-X4 electric aircraft
Vertical Aerospace is an electric vertical take-off and landing or eVTOL start-up company based in Bristol, UK. It just announced on Thursday, June 10 that it had received pre-orders for almost 1,000 VA-X4 electric planes. Among these pre-orders, American Airlines would have ordered between 250 and 350, Virgin Atlantic would have ordered between 50 and 150 VA-X4 and the aircraft leasing group Avolon would have also ordered 310 of these planes.
Recall that Vertical Aerospace described the VA-X4 as ” the world’s first certified winged vertical take-off and landing aircraft “, Being able” carry up to five people ”Including four passengers and a pilot and which can reach a cruising speed of 325 km / h for a maximum range of 193 km.
An electric plane that does not lack strengths
But the VA-X4 also has other strengths. Indeed, it is 100 times quieter than a helicopter, more secure, easier to pilot and yet consumes less energy and power than a helicopter.
According to the company, this electric plane would have a wingspan of 15 meters and 13 meters long and can take off and land on existing helipads. It is also said to have efficient aerodynamics, a payload capacity of 450 kg, an EASA certified design and is powered by Lithium-ion batteries.
