Vertical Aerospace today announced it has been awarded UKP8 million (USD10 million) in grant funding by the UK Government, through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, to develop its next-generation propellers for use on its VX4 aircraft. The company says the project is the fourth awarded to Vertical by the ATI Programme and brings total UK Government grant funding to UKP37 million (USD47 million).
“The award puts the UK at the heart of the future global market in urban air mobility, which promises to transform how people move around and between cities, providing a clean, green and low-noise means of travel” according to the press release. “Vertical is pioneering these efforts through the VX4, with a new, more advanced and full-scale prototype currently in production.
“This specific project will bring together the UK’s foremost experts and technical partners to further develop Vertical’s eVTOL propellor technology and propulsion system. The final technology will be lower in weight, inertia and noise than their existing propellers, and be delivered to a higher safety standard than any model currently on the market.
“This award follows Vertical’s recent announcement that Stephen Fitzpatrick has committed to invest a further USD50 million into the business to support the continued development of the aircraft programme. Taken together, Vertical’s announcements over the last month deliver approximately USD60 million in additional committed funding.
“The total investment into the propeller project is almost UKP20 million, with Vertical having been awarded over UKP8 million, representing a contribution of 50% of Vertical’s eligible development costs. A further UKP3.5 million will be awarded to the other consortium members.
“The consortium, led by Vertical, includes world-leading academic institutions: the University of Glasgow, the University of Bristol and Cranfield University, and the UK’s helicopter monitoring specialists, Helitune. The ATI Programme is co-ordinated and managed by the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. Vertical has previously been awarded UKP26m from the ATI Programme as well as UKP3m from the Future Flight Challenge. The latest ATI Programme grant brings total UK Government support to UKP37m.”
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(Image: Vertical Aerospace)
