UK-headquartered eVTOL manufacturer VRCO is to supply at least four four seat XP4 aircraft to adventure travel company Pelorus. The all-electric XP4 aircraft will enhance Pelorus's commitment to carbon-responsible travel, and its capabilities will enable travellers to take off and land on yachts, and to fly through mountain and jungle environments.

The XP4 aircraft is currently undergoing extreme hot and cold weather testing and is due for certification in 2024. Pelorus is constructing new travel itineraries that will be available to book shortly.

Pelorus co-founder and CEO Geordie Mackay-Lewis says: “We have always prided ourselves on being at the very forefront of innovation within the travel experiences sector and strive to provide our customers with truly exclusive, boutique experiences of the kind they would not get from any other travel company. In the past, the ability to transform perspectives with immersive air-bound experiences around the world has been somewhat limited by restrictions that come with the use of helicopters and similar aircraft, which are far more cumbersome and disruptive to the natural world.

“The advent of the eVTOL market and products like the all-electric XP4 is therefore the natural and most logical way for us to expand our offering and move the needle on sustainable air transport, while the aircraft's luxury credentials are in perfect harmony with the top-end experiences we offer our clientele. At Pelorus, we have always had a maverick spirit and strong sense of duty to towards stewardship of the planet. Creating this world-first partnership is just another indication of that in action.”

Pelorus specialises in taking its clients' wildest travel dreams and making them a reality, working with a trusted network of industry leaders across the world and its own team's proven creativity to generate truly extraordinary itineraries that enable people to see some of the most beautiful, remote and culturally-diverse places on Earth.

The company also has its own Pelorus Yacht Services arm, which can provide customers with expedition yachts with their own submersibles to ultra-luxury motor yachts with onboard spas and underwater lounges. Last month, VRCO partnered with solar catamaran builder Silent-Yachts and its flagship Silent 120 Explorer yacht.

VRCO began development of its XP4 aircraft design in 2016, with operational testing due to begin in 2024 and certification expected shortly afterwards. The craft's elegant design has been created with safety, security and high performance in mind; it can reach speeds in excess of 160 knots and features advanced lightweight composites, plus detection and avoidance technologies with safety measures such as a ballistic parachute and low-altitude crash prevention systems. The hot and cold weather testing being undertaken with the XP4 this year will be crucial to ensure the craft's suitability for the most extreme travel destinations Pelorus has to offer.

VRCO founder and CEO Michael Smith says: “The XP4 has unmatched capabilities that will allow our private owners to enjoy incomparable experiences. Unlike many eVTOL builders, our focus is not on the mass air taxi market but rather on private ownership by UNHW individuals. That is why our partnership with Pelorus is a perfect match, as our target customers are similarly discerning individuals who are looking for truly unparalleled products and experiences.”