The Farnborough International Airshow commenced with the announcement that Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company based in Bristol, has begun testing its new VX4 eVTOL prototype. The VX4 is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) with zero operating emissions. Powered by a 1.4MW peak power powertrain and proprietary battery packs developed at the Vertical Energy Centre, the prototype aims to meet the highest safety standards for piloted flights. Vertical Aerospace plans to conduct powertrain tests to measure thrust output, system integration, and structural integrity before progressing to tethered and untethered flight tests. The VX4 prototype, designed in collaboration with industry leaders like Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, boasts a 20% increase in power-to-weight ratio, allowing speeds of up to 150mph. The aerospace community at the Farnborough Air Show also witnessed the UK government's £103m funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme for green air travel projects. This funding will support initiatives by GKN Aerospace, Queen’s University Belfast, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers, and ZeroAvia, focusing on innovations such as zero-emission hydrogen-powered flight, sustainable propulsion systems, and turbine technologies. The collaboration between industry and government entities reflects a commitment to advancing sustainable aviation technology for a greener future.