Vertical Aerospace Completes First Two‑Way Piloted Transition Flight Under Civil Oversight

Vertical Aerospace has advanced the maturity of electric aviation with a successful two‑way piloted transition flight of its full‑scale Valo demonstrator, marking a significant step toward commercial eVTOL operations later this decade. The achievement positions the UK developer among the global leaders progressing tiltrotor electric aircraft toward certification and service entry.

Demonstrating the Core Capability of eVTOL Flight

Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies conducted the flight on 14 April 2026, transitioning from vertical takeoff to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing in a single sortie. Vertical is the second company worldwide to complete a two‑way piloted transition in a full‑scale tiltrotor eVTOL and the first to do so under Design Organisation Approval oversight from a civil aviation authority. The milestone follows the company’s thrustborne transition earlier in April and completes the full transition envelope required for commercial eVTOL operations.

Transition flight is the defining technical requirement for electric air taxis, enabling aircraft to lift off vertically from urban sites, accelerate into efficient wingborne cruise, and land vertically at their destination. Vertical positions this capability as foundational for future city‑to‑airport routes such as Canary Wharf to Heathrow or JFK to Manhattan, where speed, noise, and infrastructure constraints favor eVTOL performance.

Advancing Toward Certification

All testing was conducted under the supervision of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, working in coordination with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency as part of the Valo’s Type Certification program. With vertical, wingborne, and transition phases now demonstrated, Vertical is preparing for critical design review and the build of seven pre‑production aircraft for compliance testing.

The company continues to target certification in 2028, with entry into service expected shortly thereafter. Vertical’s certification approach is designed for transferability to other regulators, including the FAA, ANAC, and JCAB, supporting global deployment with partners such as American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines.

Industry and Government Support

American Airlines leadership highlighted the milestone as a meaningful step toward scalable, sustainable advanced air mobility. UK government officials also emphasized the achievement as evidence of the country’s growing role in zero‑emission aerospace innovation. Honeywell Aerospace, which supplies the Compact Fly‑by‑Wire system for the Valo, noted the progress as a validation of disciplined system integration and joint engineering.

Strengthening the UK’s Aerospace Base

Vertical expects its UK manufacturing and supply chain footprint to expand significantly as the Valo program progresses, projecting more than 2,000 jobs by 2035. The company is also advancing several strategic initiatives, including public flight demonstrations, hybrid‑electric development, expansion of its Vertical Energy Center, and production of the first full‑scale certification aircraft.

Flight Test Program Progression

Vertical’s piloted test campaign has advanced through a structured sequence since 2024, including tethered hover, thrustborne operations, wingborne flight, and now full two‑way transition. The company plans to continue expanding the flight envelope as it moves toward certification testing and public demonstrations, including at the Farnborough International Airshow.