Here is the UK's first unmanned helicopter, built by Leonardo (which was Westland, who built US helicopters under licence besides their own until the money ran out) and funded by the government to the tune of £60 million. This is as I recall is much the same as granted Vertical Aerospace, but it doesn't matter... in common with all governments in the western world if you're looking for taxpayer dollars it's best that you have either lots of money in the first place or else none at all.
Not the issue here, though, which is about prototyping. When I first bought cars you could see how they were put together. Modern cars are moulded confectionery with no transparency as to how they work: which is how they like it.
Contrast say the ignition system comprising a distributor, rotor-arm and points that could be repaired at the roadside with a nail-file ~ as once we did ~ with a circuit board that leaves you stranded and awaiting recovery prior expensive replacement.
It's why governments loathe individuals, inventors, and thus individual inventors... they're just not going along with financing taxable products and services that they subsidise in the form of corporations that own all of us... including them.
But you get a peep at what prototyping is all about here, and why my own also look a bit shit. Check out the panels that make up the bodywork and ask whether you'd want your Lambo looking like that prior to cruising Mayfair?
But it's called hard graft, and it's how it all begins.
Ed. Not rivets on closer inspection, but cross-head screws given the apprentice to fit whilst greyer heads go for a cup of tea.
