Vertical Aerospace has successfully conducted the first piloted flight of its latest eVTOL prototype, marking a major step toward commercial certification expected by 2028. The British firm aims to transform urban and regional air mobility with its Valo aircraft, capable of both helicopter-like vertical takeoffs and conventional airplane cruising speeds.
- New eVTOL prototype completed first piloted flight in June 2026
- Aircraft transitions between helicopter and airplane flight modes
- Commercial certification targeted for 2028 with hybrid-electric plans
What happened
On June 5, 2026, Vertical Aerospace’s second full-scale prototype of the Valo eVTOL aircraft took to the skies for its first piloted flight at the company’s Flight Test Centre in the UK. This flight follows the granting of a Permit to Fly by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which was awarded after extensive ground testing validated the aircraft's safety and performance. This new prototype joins the first Valo model already in the air, effectively doubling the company’s flight testing capacity and speeding progress toward commercial certification planned for 2028.
The test flight marks a key milestone in Vertical Aerospace’s development program, as the new prototype begins its own comprehensive flight testing cycle. The aircraft will undergo phases of thrustborne flight, wingborne cruising, and the challenging full bidirectional transition between vertical and forward flight modes. These phases have already been demonstrated by the initial prototype, including a landmark flight in April 2026 where the first complete piloted transition was successfully completed under regulatory oversight—a critical technical achievement in the eVTOL industry.
Why it feels good
Vertical Aerospace’s progress towards certification promises to make sustainable, fast, and flexible air travel a reality within a few years. The Valo’s design, which combines eight electric rotors with fixed wings and advanced fly-by-wire controls, allows it to both take off vertically like a helicopter and cruise efficiently like a conventional aircraft. This dual capability opens new opportunities for urban mobility, regional transport, and potentially defense and logistics sectors through future hybrid-electric versions.
The involvement of technology leaders in materials and flight control systems underscores the sophistication behind the Valo, enhancing safety and reliability as it moves closer to commercial use. The goal of carrying a pilot plus four passengers up to 100 miles at speeds near 150 mph offers a glimpse of the future of short-hop air travel—quiet, emissions-free, and versatile. This represents a meaningful step toward reducing urban congestion and supporting greener transport solutions.
What to enjoy or watch next
The coming months will see the new prototype complete its staged flight testing, followed by conversion plans into a hybrid-electric testbed that aims to extend range and payload capabilities. This development will be especially exciting for sectors looking beyond daily urban transport—such as defense and logistics—offering new mission profiles for eVTOL aircraft. Vertical Aerospace’s next major milestone will be the Critical Design Review, which will finalize the aircraft’s certification blueprint and kick off pre-production.
For enthusiasts and industry watchers, flights of the Valo aircraft will increasingly showcase the smooth transition between vertical and forward flight, a complex maneuver that is fundamental to eVTOL technology. Continued successful flights and regulatory progress will build confidence in the viability of electric air mobility and could set the stage for more companies to join the emerging commuter eVTOL market by the late 2020s.