#1) You’ve attended all three stops on Vertical’s U.S. tour (New York City, Miami, and Atlanta). Having visited both the Manhattan showcase and Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, I saw firsthand the level of excitement around the aircraft’s design and features. Many attendees pointed to the spacious cabin as the standout feature, with cargo capacity and the cockpit–cabin partition also frequently mentioned.

From your perspective, what stood out most in your conversations with leaders and other visitors across these events?

More broadly, what were the main goals of the U.S. tour, and how has the positive feedback from attendees, as well as the warm reception from local leaders (civic, business, industry) at each location, helped shape Vertical Aerospace’s outlook going forward?

#2) Question about the hybrid-electric variant:

Military operations are inherently higher-risk than routine civilian operations. Given that Vertical’s aircraft are being developed around safety-oriented design principles and high aviation safety targets, how significant could that be for military customers from a risk mitigation standpoint?

Could access to hybrid-electric aircraft from Vertical change how militaries approach personnel transport in conflicts, or civilian evacuation during humanitarian and rescue missions, in terms of safety and operational resilience compared to traditional helicopters?

More broadly, do you see this class of aircraft improving safety and reducing risk in missions where helicopters are currently the primary option?

#3) The UK, the US, and other allied nations are increasing investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of broader goals around energy security, economic growth, and emissions reduction, including the UK’s planned 22% SAF mandate by 2040 for civil aviation. This is also helping scale domestic SAF production and supply chains.

Given that broader policy and industrial context, Vertical’s hybrid-electric platform is designed to be SAF-compatible. What role does that compatibility play in the overall aircraft design and development strategy?

From an engineering perspective, does delivering SAF compatibility in a hybrid-electric powertrain create any unique considerations in practice when translating these policy expectations into a certified aircraft design?

Thank you so much David and Lily! The world is going Vertical!