LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2025--
Vertical Aerospace (“Vertical” or “Company”) [NYSE:EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced significant progress in its piloted transition flight testing phase, achieving key milestones since receiving its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 13 November 2025.
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The full-scale prototype has completed ten flights since this Permit to Fly was issued, expanding the majority of the transition envelope, including acceleration and deceleration through a wide range of speeds and tilt positions.
With the final 10% of tilt transition remaining after all test phases to date, full piloted transition is expected in early 2026. This reflects the structured progression of the test programme alongside limited flight-test windows and weather constraints at this stage.
Recent flights are delivering valuable data as the team expands the flight envelope and refines the flight-control and EPU software. Several first-time achievements have been completed, including in-flight deployment and stow of the rear propellers, spin-up during wingborne flight, and prop-hold functionality, marking meaningful steps forward in validating the aircraft’s behaviour through the transition regime.
Vertical is conducting piloted transition testing under full CAA oversight and has recently been granted additional privileges by the regulator to approve Flight Conditions and issue its own Permits to Fly under defined circumstances.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:
“Our team continues to make excellent progress as we close in on full piloted transition flight. Achieving this level of performance under CAA oversight is a major validation of our engineering approach and a critical milestone as we move toward certification. These results give us real confidence in the aircraft’s capabilities and in the path ahead as we prepare for the next phase of testing in the new year.”
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel. Valo is a piloted, four-passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market.
Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the piloted test programme phases including transition flight on the intended timeline or at all; the certification and the commercialization of the Valo aircraft and the timing thereof; the design and manufacture of the Valo aircraft; the features and capabilities of the Valo aircraft; the business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations; the assumptions underlying the Company’s goals, including Flightpath 2030; the differential strategy compared to our peer group; expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, as well as statements that include the words "goals,” “targets,” “objectives,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, among other things, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s business, industry performance, the regulatory environment, and general business and economic conditions, as discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
Vertical's piloted full-scale prototype during flight testing
