If you’ve only picture planes and helicopters in the sky so far, get ready for flying taxis. Very soon, you’ll actually see them up there. UK’s Vertical Aerospace just pulled off the first airport-to-airport flight in an electric AirTaxi that’s ready for the commercial world. This flight is a big win for electric flying. With it done, the biggest hurdles for a real AirTaxi service are mostly cleared. The aircraft that took to the sky is the world’s first winged tilt-rotor eVTOL to do a full airport-to-airport hop. The company’s VX4 prototype lifted off from Cotswold Airport and flew straight to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. Over the 27-kilometre route, the VX4 flew 185 km/h and climbed to 1,800 feet. The landmark flight happened on 16 July, once the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued the green light and flight permit. Thousands of people lined the route to witness the first true airport-to-airport AirTaxi operation.Simon Davis, Chief Test Pilot at Vertical, shared with reporters, “We’ve reached an important milestone here—this flight proves the VX4 AirTaxi can operate seamlessly in the real world.”The latest prototype, he continued, cruised at 241 kilometres per hour and reached an altitude that supports its maximum range of 160 kilometres. Designed to carry four passengers plus the pilot, the cabin layout prioritises generous legroom, ensuring that each flight feels relaxing rather than crowded. Constructed from lightweight carbon-fibre composites, the airframe remains both sturdy and efficient. Eight distributed propellers generate the lift needed for smooth vertical take-off and landing, allowing the VX4 to glide in and out of tight urban spaces with ease.
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