Designs for Vertical Aerospace's VA-1X flying taxi

The Argus reported yesterday how a project to create giant people-carrying drones had won government backing.

Afterwards, Vertical Aerospace got in touch to share designs for "flagship aircraft," the VA-1X.

Designs for the companies' VA-1X model have been released

The VA-1X would travel at 150mph, cutting the time it takes to travel from the capital to the coast, currently about two hours by car or an hour by train.

Vertical Aerospace's James Richmond, an expert on "advanced air mobility," said the new technology could be a reality by 2023.

The companies first prototypes, the POC and the Seraph

The company's first prototype was the POC, this was followed a second prototype, the Seraph.

Plans were then released for the VA-1X, which will boast cruise speeds of 150 mph with a useable range of up to 100 miles.

The VA-1X boasts a distributed propulsion system making it far quieter than a helicopter

The model will also be 30 times quieter than a helicopter thanks to a distributed propulsion system.

The wingspan of the aircraft is 15 metres, and it's 13m in length - meaning it's small enough to take off and land from existing helipads.

The VA-1X is Vertical Aerospace's "flagship aircraft"

The project has taken a big step forward after being awarded partial funding of £2.5 million through the government’s future of flight challenge.

Vertical Aerospace was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, who is attempting to promote sustainability in transportation.

Vertical Aerospace sent The Argus pictures of the VA-1X model

It is now a part of a consortium led by a company called Atkins and involving the West of England Combined Authority.