Vertical Aerospace revealed Valo, its new commercial eVTOL aircraft that will enter into service following regulatory approval. Valo, unveiled in London on 10 December. Valo is the aircraft that succeeds Vertical's VX4 prototype - with a new, more advanced design shaped by extensive insights from the Company's piloted test programme and direct feedback from airline and operator customers.
Developed in collaboration with leading aerospace partners, including Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri, 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 world's most rigorous safety standards. Designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions, Valo is targeting airline-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.
Valo's premium cabin will launch with four seats, offering panoramic windows, generous personal space, and a cockpit divider for enhanced safety and privacy. The aircraft's flexible design enables expansion to six seats, with the potential to improve operator economics and lower fares for passengers. With room for six cabin bags and six checked bags, passengers can travel without compromise - a major advantage on airport-to-city services.
From prototype to product: Vertical is now close to completing full piloted transition flight with its full-scale prototype - the defining manoeuvre of electric aviation in which 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 certifiable 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 targeted Type Certification in 2028.
After certification, Valo will enter commercial service. Valo ? Key Target Technical Specifications: Range & Speed: Up to 100 miles at up to 150 mph, with zero operating emissions and quiet performance (<50 dBA in cruise).
Battery power: Eight liquid-cooled under-floor battery packs; ~12-minute short-mission recharge; architecture designed to accommodate future battery advances. Safety: Designed to meet airliner-level safety standards (UK/EU 10??; CAA/EASA, SC-VTOL Category Enhanced), enabling truly global portability. Redundancy: Eight electric motors (EPUs), each powered by multiple electrically isolated power lanes to ensure maximum safety.
Cabin & Payload: Largest cabin in its class; seating for up to six passengers plus observer seat; 550 kg /1,200 lbs total payload at entry into service; space for six cabin bags and six checked bags; cockpit divider for safety and privacy. Versatility: Supports EMS, cargo, and future defence, hybrid and autonomous variants.
