Vertical Aerospace joins Future Cities Forum this October

Image: courtesy of Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, is to join our Bristol 'Innovation Cities' forum this month. Marjan Schoeke, vice-president, will be speaking about the company's technology that allows for more sustainable transport networks and the reduction of emissions in urban centres.

The forum is being hosted by Deloitte in the Halo Building, Finzels Reach, Bristol, to look at the growth of the south west economy in the areas of technology, transport, defence, place-making and housing. Vertical Aerospace will be joining the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, the universities of Plymouth, Bristol and Bath, and YTL Developments, among other contributors.

Vertical Aerospace has welcomed the recent announcement that new funding from the Department of Transport has been awarded to projects that are working on next-generation zero-emission aircraft and the development of vertical take-off and landing technology.

It states:

'Among the initiatives receiving support is the OxCam AAM Corridor demonstrator which is bringing together the expertise of Skyports, Bristow Helicopters, NATS, Vertical Aerospace and Oxfordshire County Council, with the aim to accelerate the transition of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) from trials to commercially viable, regional operations within the UK. The project will culminate in planned test flights by Vertical Aerospace's VX4 aircraft.

'Invested as part of the government's Future Flight programme, delivered by Innovate UK, the funding is designed to secure the UK's global leadership in the future of aviation. The government has committed £2.3 billion in funding over the next 10 years to the Aerospace Technology Institute programme, which helps the sector to manufacture newer, more efficient aircraft.

Vertical Aerospace describes how the company started:

'The idea for Vertical was born from the frustration of being stuck in a two hour gridlock. Across the world, our cities are overcrowded, congested and polluted. Urban travel isn’t working. Not for people. Certainly not for the planet. So, we set out to design a new way to get around, and define the way forward. And the way forward, is up.

'We set out to pioneer electric aviation. Because air travel makes sense when it comes to efficiency, but not emissions. Our work shows that not only is the electrification of flight possible, but practical too. Promising more sustainable transport networks and reducing emissions in urban centres — electric flight will benefit everyone and add something a little bit extraordinary to the everyday.'