UK-based electric aviation company Vertical Aerospace has appointed Paul Stone as a test pilot. His arrival makes Vertical one of the very few eVTOL companies in the world to have two test pilots with experience of flying full-scale, piloted eVTOL aircraft.

With over 28 years of experience in experimental, development, certification and production test flying, including 20 years in the Royal Navy, Stone has accumulated more than 4,800 flight hours across more than 200 aircraft types. Most recently he was chief test pilot at Volocopter, flying both its concept demonstrator and full-scale eVTOL Volocity prototype for the last three years. He joins Vertical's chief test pilot Simon Davies and test pilot Tim Eldridge.

His expertise includes at least 15 years of test experience on all marks of Harrier along with pioneering research on short/vertical take-off and landing (SVTOL/VTOL) digital flight control systems, contributing to the vectored-thrust aircraft advanced control Harrier and the Boeing X-32 short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) concept demonstrator. He has also worked on control law development for NASA and Boeing, refining the software that governs aircraft stability and manoeuvrability.

Stone also has extensive private defence sector flight test experience, including at BAE Systems where he served as Typhoon future capability director, director of flight operations and chief test pilot for combat aircraft, leading critical flight test programmes.

He states: “I have been passionate about testing cutting-edge aircraft throughout my career, and Vertical is at the leading edge of electric aviation. With the VX4's progress and the team's world-class expertise, I'm excited to be part of the journey to certify and commercialise the VX4.”

Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson adds: “Paul joining Vertical underscores the incredible progress we're making with our piloted flight test programme and sector leading aircraft. A test team with two eVTOL experienced pilots puts us in an elite group worldwide. I look forward to seeing Paul take to the skies in our full-scale prototype as we progress our piloted test programme, which sets our progress apart in the sector.”

Vertical recently completed piloted thrustborne testing for its VX4 prototype and continues to work with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expand its flight envelope ahead of wingborne flight, which it believes would be a world-first with this aircraft type.

Stone's appointment follows Vertical's recent 2024 financial year earnings announcement, which included that the assembly of the third full-scale VX4 prototype has begun at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre.