Vertical Aerospace has officially revealed Valo, the new commercial eVTOL aircraft that will replace the company’s long-running VX4 prototype and enter service in 2028 subject to regulatory approval.
The full-scale model was unveiled at The Pelligon in Canary Wharf, London, where the company also hosted a public open house.
Valo is the successor to Vertical’s VX4 prototype, the platform that has been undergoing piloted flight tests since 2022. Insights gathered across hover, thrustborne and wingborne testing have informed a more aerodynamic airframe, an under-floor liquid-cooled battery system, redesigned wing and propeller architecture, and full certifiable redundancy intended to meet the highest safety standards.
The aircraft is designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions.
“With the launch of Valo, Vertical moves from prototype developer to aerospace manufacturer,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “Valo is the aircraft that turns electric flight into a commercial reality.”
Alongside the unveiling, Vertical announced plans with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow to establish the UK’s first electric air-taxi network. Proposed routes from Canary Wharf include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Cambridge and Oxford. Bristow would operate the services, with a Canary Wharf–Heathrow connection expected to cut journey times from 60–90 minutes on the ground to 12 minutes in the air.
Valo is also attracting interest beyond the UK. Vertical confirmed a new customer agreement with Héli Air Monaco to introduce the aircraft across the Côte d’Azur.
A tour of the aircraft
Zag Daily joined Vertical Aerospace Chief Engineer David King on site for a walk-through of the aircraft, exploring the configuration that the company intends to bring into commercial service in 2028.
The most immediate change from the VX4 is scale. “The Valo represents our full production configuration,” King explained. “It features the largest cabin in its class and can seat six passengers. The cockpit is designed for a single pilot and includes an observer’s seat.”
The cabin, displayed in its premium four-seat layout, has been developed to provide panoramic visibility, generous personal space and a cockpit divider. It’s modelled to resemble a London black taxi, King explains.
“Our vision is to deliver air mobility at a price point competitive with existing ground transportation,” King said. “To achieve that, we need both versatility and volume.” The aircraft’s geometry supports a future six-seat configuration, allowing operators to increase capacity without redesigning the cabin.
Luggage capacity is another design priority. Airlines told Vertical that airport-transfer passengers expect to travel with more than light cabin bags.
“We’ve incorporated a significantly larger baggage bay capable of holding 12 bags: six carry-on items and six suitcases,” King said. “Passengers connecting to long-haul flights need proper suitcase space. That feedback came through strongly.”
The new battery installation has also reshaped the interior. By moving eight liquid-cooled battery packs beneath the cabin floor, Vertical has freed up volume while creating a more certifiable architecture capable of accepting future battery advances.
Externally, Valo carries over the basic mission of the VX4 but with refined aerodynamics, updated propellers and a cleaner fuselage. Operators examining the aircraft at Canary Wharf noted the reworked wing, with its split geometry and adjusted angles, as well as the revised landing-gear configuration.
The company is now nearing full piloted transition flight with its current prototype, the manoeuvre in which the aircraft shifts from vertical lift to forward flight. Data from these phases is feeding directly into the build of seven certification aircraft, all to be manufactured in the UK.
Behind the design
In a sit-down interview with Zag Daily, David King spoke candidly about how the engineering programme, financial strategy and regulatory positioning intersect as Vertical works towards certification.
He underscored that the Valo design is rooted in more than three years of piloted VX4 testing. “That stage was focused on technology maturation,” he said. “Those proven concepts have been directly applied and further developed for the Valo. Everything from aerodynamic performance to cabin layout has benefited from data collected through our prototype programme.”
Vertical has chosen to pursue the highest certification threshold available, SC-VTOL Category Enhanced, which aligns with EASA standards. King characterised the decision as strategic.
“The UK has adopted the EASA safety standards for eVTOL aircraft. This framework provides clarity: well-defined requirements and acceptable means of compliance. Aircraft certified to the highest global standards can be validated in markets with lower thresholds, but not the other way around.”
Commercially, Vertical and its partners are laying the groundwork for network deployment. King emphasised that pricing will be operator-driven but said Vertical’s goal is to help deliver a service “initially priced only slightly above an UberX” on routes such as Canary Wharf to Heathrow. The value proposition, he noted, is the time saving paired with airline-grade safety.
Vertical’s financial position has been the subject of sustained scrutiny. While the company has raised capital incrementally, its valuation remains below that of some US competitors.
“Market valuation is ultimately speculative,” King said. He argued that the company’s strategy of raising funds in stages secures progress without heavy early dilution. “Some competitors have raised very large sums upfront, leading the market to assign them higher valuations simply because of their cash reserves,” he said. “In terms of the intrinsic value of our technology, capability and long-term market opportunity, I believe we are undervalued.”
He also pushed back against the idea that shareholder protection and company survival are competing objectives. “As we achieve programme milestones and demonstrate the aircraft’s capabilities, value naturally increases,” he said. He pointed to future demand exceeding supply for at least the first decade after entry into service, supported by additional variants such as a hybrid-propulsion model targeting extended range.
Looking ahead, King was clear about the next major milestone. “By December 2027, you will see our first seven pre-production Valo aircraft fully manufactured and undergoing rigorous certification testing,” he said. Those aircraft will be the final step before commercial introduction in 2028.
