Vertical Aerospace has unveiled a new commercial eVTOL aircraft, Valo, targeting certification in 2028. The first full-scale reveal was held on 10 December in Canary Wharf, London, UK.
Valo’s premium cabin will launch with four seats, but the flexible design enables expansion to six seats. The cabin features large windows and a cockpit divider. The company also said Valo features “the largest cargo hold within its class”, developed in response to airliner feedback. There’s room for six cabin bags and six checked bags.
Vertical Aerospace said that as well as commercial passenger transport, the Valo platform could also support emergency medical services, cargo missions and, in the future, defence, hybrid and autonomous variants.
Valo succeeds the company’s VX4 prototype, and has a more advanced design, shaped by insights from the company’s piloted test programme and direct feedback from airline and operator customers.
Valo has been developed in collaboration with aerospace partners including Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri. Vertical Aerospace said Valo introduces a more aerodynamic airframe, an under-floor battery system, redesigned wing and propeller architecture, upgraded materials, and full certifiable redundancy to meet the most rigorous safety standards.
Designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150mph with zero operating emissions, Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with airline and operator customers. Early commercial routes are expected to include airport-to-city centre connections.
Vertical said it is now close to completing a full piloted transition flight with its full-scale prototype – where the aircraft shifts from vertical lift to forward flight. Earlier test phases validated hover, thrustborne and wingborne performance, generating thousands of data points that directly shaped Valo’s design.
Vertical will now build seven certification aircraft in the UK to support final testing with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ahead of type certification.
“With the launch of Valo, Vertical Aerospace moves from prototype developer to aerospace manufacturer,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace. “Valo is the aircraft that turns electric flight into a commercial reality – clean, quiet, fast and engineered for everyday service. It marks a new dawn in transport, one that will connect people in minutes, not hours.”
“Valo sets a new standard – bigger, safer and more capable than anything in the sector,” added Domhnal Slattery, chair, Vertical Aerospace. “It’s a breakthrough for aviation and a clear sign of the UK’s leadership in aerospace. Valo embodies the best of Vertical – precision engineering, passenger-first design and deep collaboration with global aerospace partners – creating an aircraft with the most compelling operator economics.”
