Vertical AerospaceIn Development
Piloted tilt-rotor eVTOL with eight propellers (four tilting front, four rear) and zero operating emissions. The production design, unveiled as Valo in December 2025, evolves the VX4 prototype with a more aerodynamic airframe and under-floor liquid-cooled batteries - freeing a cabin that seats up to six passengers (four in premium layout) plus a pilot. VX4 prototypes continue to fly the certification test campaign.
Latest update Jul 17, 2026
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Three full-scale VX4 prototypes in piloted flight testing at Cotswold Airport, with two-way transition flights achieved since April 2026. Seven certification-conforming aircraft to be built in the UK; type certification targeted for 2029.
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Announced next steps from Vertical Aerospace that mention Valo (VX4).
Q4 2026
Vertical expects to complete the Critical Design Review by the end of 2026, locking the certifiable design baseline for Valo. An early production aircraft assembly facility at Cotswold Airport remains targeted for Q3 2026 but had not been publicly confirmed open as of September 15, 2026; the expanded Vertical Energy Centre battery facility is still due Q4 2026. The UK government remains in advanced discussions on a further grant of up to £10M toward the first full-scale UK production site (not finalized; would bring total direct UK government support to up to £48M/$64M), and Vertical has a non-binding MOU with UK Export Finance on export-linked customer financing. Preferred full-scale sites are still aimed for selection before end of 2026.
H1 2027
The hybrid-electric defense/logistics variant is in ground testing on the HYPER rig, with turbogenerator supplier selection during 2026 and first flight targeted for the first half of 2027. The uncrewed configuration is being developed with Near Earth Autonomy under a partnership announced July 16, 2026, which also integrates Honeywell's Anthem digital cockpit already onboard Valo.
2029
Type certification under the UK CAA and EASA's concurrent SC-VTOL Enhanced pathway is now targeted for 2029, re-baselined from 2028 in the July 13, 2026 business update, with entry into service to follow - including announced London routes such as a 12-minute Canary Wharf–Heathrow connection.
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Vertical Aerospace opened a dedicated Aircraft Assembly Centre at its Cotswold Airport flight-test campus on September 24, 2026, National Manufacturing Day in the UK. The company said a 1.5 million pound investment adds 60,000 square feet, taking the site to about 130,000 square feet, and that the centre will build certification-conforming Valo aircraft for a UK CAA type-certification target of 2029, with first assembly expected in Q4 2027. After certification it expects capacity for more than 25 Valo aircraft a year there, and it will also retrofit a prototype for hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027. A separate full-scale factory is still due to be announced later in 2026.
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Vertical Aerospace announced roughly $100 million in financing commitments on August 10 to fund certification of its Valo aircraft and triple battery production capacity at its UK Energy Centre. The package combines a $40 million draw from top shareholder Mudrick Capital, a $35 million underwritten equity offering priced at $1.05 per unit, and $25 million from its Yorkville Advisors preferred-equity facility.
Vertical Aerospace began the first public piloted eVTOL demonstration flights in the history of the Farnborough International Airshow's flying display, flying its full-scale VX4 prototype during the July 20-24 show and exhibiting a full-scale model of its production aircraft, Valo. The Bristol-based company's piloted, four-passenger VX4 offers zero-emission flight with about 100 miles of range and a 150 mph cruise. Vertical says it holds roughly 1,500 conditional Valo pre-orders across four continents from customers including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Avolon, Bristow and GOL.
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