On Thursday, April 2, 2026, Vertical Aerospace’s Valo electric vertical‑takeoff and landing aircraft completed its first piloted thrustborne transition, taking off vertically and then smoothly shifting to forward, wing‑borne flight. The maneuver demonstrates the aircraft’s ability to meet the critical certification requirement of seamless transition between vertical lift and fixed‑wing flight, a key hurdle for eVTOVL operators.
The achievement brings Valo closer to EASA SC‑VTOL certification, a prerequisite for commercial operation in the European market and a stepping stone toward FAA certification in the United States. The company is targeting certification around 2028, and the successful transition validates its proprietary battery‑first design and flight‑control systems.
In March 2026, Vertical Aerospace secured an agreement in principle for a financing package of up to $850 million, providing the capital needed to advance certification and production. The financing, announced on March 30, 2026, addresses a major risk for investors by ensuring a robust financial runway.
Valo has already attracted significant interest, with approximately 1,500 conditional pre‑orders from customers including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines. The pre‑order book underscores the market’s confidence in the aircraft’s commercial potential.
"This marks a turning point not just for Vertical Aerospace, but for the entire advanced air mobility industry. Achieving piloted thrustborne transition under active regulatory oversight—alongside the recently announced financing package—demonstrates that we have solved the hardest engineering challenges, have the regulatory relationships to complete certification, and now have the financial foundation to see this through to commercial service," said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace.
"This aircraft was made to transition. From the moment the front propellers tilted and the aircraft began to accelerate, the response was exactly as the simulation predicted smooth, stable, and fully under control throughout. What the engineering team has built here is genuinely extraordinary. The aircraft handled the transition with a level of confidence that gives me great optimism for everything that comes next," said Paul Stone, test pilot.
"With the launch of Valo, Vertical moves from prototype developer to aerospace manufacturer. 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," said Domhnal Slattery, Chair of Vertical Aerospace.
Investors responded positively to the announcement, reflecting confidence in both the technology and the financial backing that now supports the company’s certification and production plans.
The milestone narrows the gap between Vertical Aerospace and better‑funded peers in the advanced air mobility race, positioning the company as a strong contender for future commercial operations.
The next critical step is to demonstrate the return transition from wing‑borne flight to vertical landing, completing the two‑stage transition sequence required for runway‑free operations. The company remains on track to achieve certification around 2028, with the financing package and pre‑order book providing a solid foundation for that goal.
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