Bicester “experience centre” vertiport secures planning permission
Skyports Infrastructure has unveiled designs for its proposed vertiport in Bicester in Oxfordshire following approval of planning permission from Cherwell District Council.
The vertiport is part of the Bicester Motion development to transform a former RAF base into a collection of “inclusive visitor experiences to celebrate the past, present and future of automotive and aviation culture.”
The Bicester Motion masterplan recasts the 180 hectare airfield as a centre of excellence for the restoration, preservation, storage and trade of historic automobiles and aircraft, and a national destination for leisure and skills, automotive innovation and technology, exhibitions, cultural events and experience centres.
The vertiport will include a compact (just 160 square metres) passenger terminal which will be a critical facility for testing ground infrastructure and flight operations and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK.
The new designs showcase advanced air mobility developer Vertical’s latest VX4 prototype, which will be the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to fly at the Skyports vertiport.
The VX4 is designed to be piloted, carry four passengers and has a range of up to 100 miles. The aircraft successfully completed its first tethered piloted flight in July and is now progressing through its robust piloted test flight programme.
Vertical will use the Skyports vertiport to conduct demonstration flights and test key procedures ahead of commercial launch.
Duncan Walker, chief executive, Skyports said, “With the green light from Cherwell District Council, now begins the exciting stage in vertiport development: building it.
“The tests and trials we conduct at this facility will be instrumental to the future of quiet, electric, vertical flight. Our vertiport at Bicester Motion will facilitate important learnings and demonstrations that advance the adoption of AAM. We are proud to be playing a pioneering role in shaping the future of this exciting industry in the UK.”
Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive, Bicester Motion said, “This is a significant moment for Bicester Motion and the future of aviation here. The former RAF Bicester was born in a period of intense technological innovation and played its role in 1938 when the Halifax prototype L7244 flew its maiden trial flights from Bicester.
“Today, we continue to welcome aircraft from all eras including new mobility technologies to provide a viable future for our historic airfield through such pioneering partnerships as Skyports. The vertiport green light enables us to continue to host such aviation innovation and advance a world where sustainable and accessible electric aviation is in reach for all, with Bicester Motion at the centre.”