News: Vertical Aerospace VALO Achieves First Piloted Transitional Flight

First Piloted Transitional Flight Achieved By VALO eVTOL
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The VALO eVTOL that is under testing by Vertical Aerospace in the UK achieved a major milestone at the start of April. On April 2nd, a piloted full-scale aircraft (they used a VX4 prototype) achieved transitional flight marking the first time that a piloted aircraft of the program conducted with maneuver. This is a critical phase of flight to competently and routinely execute as in real world operations, the VALO will have to transition from take-off to hover and then transition into forward wing-borne flight and conduct the reverse in order to land at a vertiport.

This is the most significant technical milestone in Vertical’s ten-year history and represents the completion of the first half of the two-way transition sequence. In two-way transition, the aircraft takes off vertically, flies on the wing, and then decelerates to land vertically — without the need for a runway, enabling seamless point to point flight from helipads, vertiports and rooftops.

“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", David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical Aerospace.

This milestone was achieved concurrently with Vertical announcing an agreement in principle for a financing package of up to $850 million on March 30th, 2026, to provide immediate capital and access to additional flexible capital as the Company continues to progress towards type certification and the commencement of commercial operations.

For more information:

Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd.
Unit 1, Camwal Court, Chapel Street
Bristol, BS2 0UW
www.vertical-aerospace.com

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