A company developing an all-electric air taxi is hoping to gain certification for commercial use by 2028.
Vertical Aerospace (VA) is a Bristol-based company aiming to establish a factory at Cotswold Airport to produce 25 flying taxis, known as the VX4, annually.
It would also build a new battery facility next to its research and development centre in Avonmouth to triple production of VX4 battery packs.
The company also said the air-taxis could be ready for commercial use by 2028 if it secures US$700 million in funding.
Alongside UK production, VA is still considering international locations for full production, which it plans to ramp up to 900 aircraft a year by 2035, but a final decision is expected next year.
The air-taxis, or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) have been in the works for a while.
They are designed to take off like a helicopter and not only promise to be quieter, cheaper and emission-free but are also designed to land right in the heart of the city. They will also have a 161km range and the ability to carry up to six passengers.
"These things work. We know we can certify this," VA chief executive Stuart Simpson said at a webinar in New York on Wednesday.
"Our craft has taken off like a helicopter and landed like a helicopter, it's taken off like an aircraft, flown like an aircraft and landed like an aircraft.
“With the final technical proof point - anticipated by year-end, we now have a clear, efficient path to certification and commercialisation at scale, positioning Vertical to lead the next era of electric flight.”
