An aircraft having a fixed wing is operative to perform vertical takeoff and landing while positioned in a nose-down orientation. The aircraft has a fixed wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge; a propulsion system operative to selectively provide forward propulsion and rearward propulsion; and a controller operative to control operation of the propulsion system. The propulsion system provides rearward propulsion during takeoff of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the trailing edge of the fixed wing, and provides forward propulsion during flight of the aircraft to move the aircraft in a direction of the leading edge of the fixed wing. The aircraft maintains the wing substantially vertical with the trailing edge facing upwards during takeoff, and transitions to having the wing substantially horizontal during flight. A vertical landing procedure is also provided.