Vertical Makes eVTOL Flight Debut at Farnborough Show

The Farnborough Airshow flying display this week will include an eVTOL aircraft for the first time, with Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 prototype making its debut. The daily demonstration flights have been approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under the UK start-up’s permit to fly, which now covers public appearances away from its flight test center at Cotswold Airport in the west of England.

Vertical is also displaying a mock-up of the six-passenger Valo eVTOL model, for which it now aims to complete UK and EASA type certification in 2029—a year later than previously stated—according to a program update released last week. The company has reported provisional orders for more than 1,500 of the aircraft from customers including American Airlines, Bristow, Gol, Japan Airlines, and Avolon.

On Thursday, Vertical further expanded its network of program partners, announcing a collaboration with Near Earth Autonomy. The U.S. company will integrate its autonomous flight technology with the Anthem avionics suite Honeywell is providing for the Valo aircraft, which will initially be piloted.

Near Earth and Vertical plan to explore defense applications for “increasingly automated” aircraft. In addition to the all-electric Valo, Vertical is developing a hybrid-electric version that could have a range of up to 1,000 miles and a 2,420-pound payload.

Evolito is developing electric motors for Valo, and Vertical is making its own battery packs at its facility in Bristol. Other partners include Hyundai WIA, Syensqo, Sonaca, and Isoclima.

En route to the Farnborough show, the VX4 prototype made stops at the Brize Norton and Benson Royal Air Force bases and also at Blackbushe Airport. Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson told AIN that lessons learned from extensive flight testing of this version of the aircraft are now being fed into the development of the Valo, which is expected to fly in 2028.

Regulator Keeping a Close Eye

Vertical has been working on the Valo with very close supervision from the CAA, which has exercised tight control over flight testing, including key milestones such as transitions on both takeoff and landing. “I am 100% sure that this has been the right way to prepare for type certification, because having them [the regulators] embedded with us drives all the learning they need,” he explained.

The company has now committed to over 75% of the supply chain needed to manufacture the Valo. Earlier this year, it announced a further $850 million in backing from investors, and it has so far tapped $80 million of this. Simpson said the remaining amount is sufficient to get the program to type certification.

Recently, Vertical’s engineering team started ground testing a gas turbine generator they have built for the hybrid-electric aircraft. The company says the powertrain, for which it will select suppliers this year, can be accommodated in the same airframe as the electric Valo, with some batteries being removed from the lower fuselage bay. The hybrid aircraft is expected to start flying in 2027.

Like many other advanced air mobility start-ups, Vertical is looking to tap demand to provide new solutions to military logistics needs. “The dual-use opportunity has come up, and it does not need a new aircraft so that it can probably get to market faster and cheaper,” Simpson commented.

According to Simpson, the Valo’s separate passenger cabin and space for suitcases set it apart from other eVTOL air taxis. He said that over the last 12 months, it has been working more closely with prospective operators including helicopter group Bristow, which intends to provide turnkey air services to other companies.

Earlier this month, the company reported that it expects to complete the Valo’s critical design review by the end of 2026. In the third quarter of this year, it aims to open its aircraft assembly facility for early-phase production and expand its battery manufacturing capability in the fourth quarter.