13 May 2025
Commonsense is breaking out among developers of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft with hybrid propulsion taking the place of pure battery-fed power motors.
The latest to announce a hybrid-electric alternative is the UK’s Vertical Aerospace for its VX4 aircraft. US VTOL makers Archer and Joby are already working on hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace says it has been working on its hybrid-electric power unit for 18 months and expects to start flight-testing the unit, fitted into the existing VX4 airframe, in early 2026.
One of the reasons given is the change in European attitudes to buying US military products. Vertical says it is targeting defence, logistics, and commercial markets with the hybrid-electric VX4 having a range of up to 1,000 miles and a payload capacity of 1,100 kilograms.
No details have been released about Vertical’s hybrid-propulsion system other than it’s been been in development for 18 months, but FLYER reckons that engine in the foreground looks an awful lot like a Rotax 916iS… Photos: Vertical Aerospace
Vertical says the hybrid variant will offer significant advantages for defence and emergency applications, including low noise and heat signatures for stealth missions, autonomous or crewed operation, and robust damage tolerance.
“The demand for long-range, high-payload, quiet aircraft is growing rapidly—especially across defence and critical logistics,” said Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson.
“Our hybrid-electric VTOL strategy builds on our existing electric platform, world-class battery technology and large, versatile airframe, allowing us to offer scalable solutions that unlock a new frontier in air mobility.”
Vertical is in active discussions with government agencies and potential customers to explore use cases, particularly for special missions. The hybrid VX4 will complement the all-electric version, which remains on track for type certification by 2028 under the company’s Flightpath 2030 roadmap.
