Overview
- Vertical revealed the production-intent Valo at a public open house in London’s Canary Wharf, marking its move beyond the VX4 prototype.
- Skyports and Bristow were named as partners for a proposed network linking Canary Wharf with Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge, Oxford and Bicester, with initial services targeted for early 2029.
- The company will build seven UK certification aircraft for testing with the CAA and EASA as it targets Type Certification around 2028.
- Vertical says Valo is designed to fly up to 100 miles at about 150 mph, launching with a four-seat cabin expandable to six and unusually large luggage capacity.
- Following a CAA Phase 4 Permit to Fly in November, Vertical says piloted transition testing is close to completion; it reports roughly 1,500 pre-orders/MoUs and aims to ramp production toward about 175 aircraft a year by 2030.