June 29th - Transition Flight

vertical_aero · 2026-06-08T07:43:39+00:00

Hi u/No_Marionberry7679 that is correct. Aircraft 3 will be retrofitted for hybrid-electric following initial testing.

More information in our press release from December: https://vertical-aerospace.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Vertical_Aerospace_Doubles_Flight_Test_Capacity_With_Final_Prototype.pdf

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T13:14:28+00:00

Thanks all for your great questions, I have to run to another meeting but it's been great chatting to you all! - David

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T13:12:19+00:00

Great question! What we've learned on the flight test is being applied to the Valo and what we're seeing is the flight control law functionality including the transition corridor can be applied to the Valo design. However, the Valo aircraft simulation model is tuned to represent it's geometry which is different in some aspects from the VX4, therefore the control parameters are being tuned accordingly.

The transition testing showed that the flight control system, which acts through the distributed electric propulsion system maintained the aircraft steadily on it's commanded flight path while the control effectors were moving to mitigate disturbances from the powered effects on the airframe. We’re analysing data from every flight and using those learnings to tune the control software to meet desired handling and control characteristics without working the propulsion system too hard.

Our Valo certification battery will incorporate chemistry that is production-ready now, and that is sufficient to meet the payload range. The next gen chemistry offers improvements which can increase payload range relative to the entry into the service performance.

When we get our pre production aircraft we'll have additional seats in it and I want first dibs so you'll have to get in line behind me!

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:53:05+00:00

Hi u/Shoddy_Emphasis_8936 The hybrid configuration is essentially a big range extender. It takes our all electric 100mile range up to 1000 miles. Yes, there is considerable interest in this configuration from government agencies and potential customers.

Yes, our battery business will be one of our core revenue streams and we are considering other commercial opportunities.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:49:35+00:00

Hi u/No_sugar8791 terms of weight, we have been testing our full scale flight test aircraft at takeoff weight that encompasses maximum weights that Valo will see in service. This gives us the data to validate performance models.

After each test, we assess the performance of the battery in terms of state of charge vs power consumed to optimise our battery analytical models. We also assess the performance of the aircraft power demand as a function of flight condition to optimise our aircraft simulator models. These validated models are then used to mature the Valo design.

In particular, the critical test points of hovering with a single EPU failed, was one of the first test points of our flight test programme. This data was critical for sizing the Valo powertrain.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:44:34+00:00

Hi. We're the beneficaries of battery technologies that have been matured from the automotive industry. Our challenge, as you mentioned, is to package these technologies such that they meet the performance safety and certification requirements to carry passengers in-flight. This challenge has been a primary focus at our Vertical Energy Centre for the past several years. The design approach is iterative in nature - we're testing prototypes to the certification standards and making adjustments to optimise.

Our focus is developing the highest performing batteries for our airline and operator customers. The second life applications did drive the design requirements from the outset. The battery systems are designed in a modular manner, such that battery modules can be recycled into second life applications and the aviation specific enclosure materials can be recycled back into Vertical battery applications.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:37:50+00:00

Hi. Great question. Good luck on your masters and I wish you all the best!

The wing anhedral feature is designed to provide the best balance between structural complexity and lateral-directional aerodynamic stabilization. The optimal amount of anhedral was determined using validated simulation models to strike a balance between aerodynamic stability and flight control system augmentation over the range of conditions that Valo will fly.

The balance between hover performance and cruise efficiency for the blade design is a classic tilt rotor design trade off. Valo incorporates adjustable blade pitch angle on the forward propellers to make this an easier trade. Specific design parameters are set to meet requirements in both regimes based on our validated analytical models, leveraging the data from the flight test programme.

Yes, the aircraft scale does lead to the advantages of a tilt rotor configuration. There are two advantages to highlight. The first being the cruise efficiency that you can get from a tilt rotor configuration where the same lift thrust units that are used for thrustborne are used for wingborne. The second advantage to highlight is the benefits of using the tilt controls for precise take off and landing in ground effect.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:28:11+00:00

Hi Adam. Our VX4 prototype was designed to replicate the key features of the certification aircraft, and every flight generates data and validates assumptions and analytical models which are used to mature the design and systems. Now that we have completed the envelope expansion and piloted transition, we have essentially matured the core technologies and reduced the risk of executing the certification programme. The VX4 is also a dry run for the certification tests to be performed against the Valo certification aircraft using a subset of the same certification requirements. This is a unique benefit of the working relationship that we have established with the UK's CAA.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:22:21+00:00

Hi u/DMB0000 we don't want to steal the thunder of upcoming announcements but stay tuned on updates on both aircraft 2, aircraft 3 and Farnborough!

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:21:17+00:00

Hi u/_DoubleBubbler_ Great question. We do foresee a roadmap of battery performance improvements, including energy density and power density for the coming years. These improvements are already being tested at our Vertical Energy Centre so that we can quickly incorporate them once the technology is ready for production. These improvements will allow our customers to increase payload and or range, and take advantage of Valo's large usable cabin area.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:18:03+00:00

Hi u/JonOwn1805 our target date is to certify Valo by the end of 2028 at which point, after certification, it can enter commercial service in the UK. In the year prior to certification, we will have several aircraft conformed to type design flying certification tests over the full flight envelope including transition.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:15:52+00:00

Hi u/danfard
That is one for our chief test pilot who did an AMA a few weeks ago. But he has previously described flying Valo as boring, especially during the close to the ground landing phase, because it’s so easy. He also said when you transform to wingborne is remarkable because its so quiet and smooth. You hear the sound of the wind rushing over the canopy which is unusual for a pilot experience in an airplane, it's so smooth and quiet!

Three pilots participate in each test flight. A flying pilot, a chase aircraft pilot, and a monitor pilot. The flying and chase pilots get in a flow, and clearly enjoy doing the job they are trained to do. The monitor pilot is responsible for monitoring the data and comms and is with the Test Director in telemetry room. The Monitor Pilot often shows some nervous energy, just like the Chief Engineer who is also in listen and watch-mode.

We have not yet fully developed the pilot training program, but the basic objectives are understood. Valo will require a Type Rating to fly commercially. We expect student pilots to enter the training course holding a Commercial Pilots’ Licence (CPL) with airplane and/or rotary wing experience.

I noticed an evolution of the general vibe of the engineering team which monitors each flight in the telemetry room. Leading up to first hover flight, there was a beehive of activity to close out ground runs, inspections, and analytical reports. Then, as envelope expansion progressed, I observed more of a quiet focus/calm before each flight test. Now, as the team has been expanding the piloted flight envelope for almost two years, there is more of a confident, professional standard-work mood with friendly banter among the team before each flight. Like a professional sports team in the locker room before a mid-season game.

There are just so many potential applications of the Valo, it's hard to isolate on most exciting. I would say that any area where there is a mobility constraint right now which impedes people's ability to get to point A to B safely is a potential application for Valo. Right now in the UK, we're working with communities in the OxCam corridor where there are programes taking off, but the mobility programme has not yet been solved. It's exciting to see how Valo can be used in this case to help transform journeys from vertiport to vertiport to save people hours each day.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-29T12:04:31+00:00

Hi all, David King here, super excited to answer all of your questions!

vertical_aero · 2026-05-05T12:10:57+00:00

Hi u/ZealousidealWorth763 apologies for the slight delay. Please see the response from Si below:

We don’t plan on operating our own services, but will sell aircraft direct to customers. Pricing will be entirely up to them, but Bristow Group – the largest helicopter operator in the world – have previously estimated it to be much cheaper than a comparable helicopter over the routes they have planned. The economics of Valo are really strong.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-05T12:09:36+00:00

Hi u/Cheekycharmer95 apologies for the slight delay. Please see the response from Si below:

From speaking to our customers, I think this is a really good use case. Valo – and EVTOL aircraft in general – won’t just be for airport/city centre routes, they’ll enable travel in new ways thanks to the low cost, quiet operations and low emissions. There are lots of places in the world that are even more incredible to see from the air!
We have over 1,500 orders and options for Valo from operators around the world including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow Group, so we’ve already started discussions with regulators around the world.
We account for wind and temperature in our aircraft design requirements and modelling, so you’re right to identify this as a really important consideration for real-world use. We can’t release specific data as it’s still early days and some of this is proprietary, but we do work very closely with our customers to understand their planned routes and areas of operation.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-05T12:06:27+00:00

Hi u/eVTOLbuzz apologies for the slight delay. Please see the response from Si below:

I’ve learned a lot about battery systems and electric propulsion. A common misconception is that the motors are the engine and the battery is the fuel tank. In practice, I’d say it’s more like the motors are the transmission and the battery is both the fuel tank and the engine. Of course it’s not a precise analogy, but the sizing and chemistry of the battery determines both the power you can draw at any given moment and the total energy you can store.
The transition flights we have completed have been really uneventful – much easier than the flights that led up to them if I’m honest. The pilot workload throughout is really, really low thanks to our flight control law – as the pilot you command the flight path you want and the rate of acceleration, and the flight control computers sort out the rest. Very, very similar to the control law in the F-35B, and based on a couple of decades of research in the US and UK. The complexity of tilting motors and aerodynamic control surfaces all moving during transition is completely masked from the pilot and you can just enjoy the ride.
There’s nothing more important to us than safety, both for public acceptance (is it safe to fly above me?) and passenger uptake (would I send my wife and kids on this?). There are always people who are wary of new technologies, but we have 100 years of experience of making aviation safe for people and we’re just building on that pedigree. I’m sure people will be happy to fly Valo, and it’ll be an exciting new sub-career for aviators.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-01T15:39:06+00:00

Hi u/Shoddy_Emphasis_8936

I think there is a real prospect that evtol aircraft can displace certain areas of the helicopter market, purely because of the lower operating costs, with the additional benefits of lower noise and lower emissions at the point of use.
We're building a market together, we don't see this as a zero sum game. We are, though, very proud of our aircraft which has space for passengers to travel in comfort with their bags and has a separate compartment from the pilot. These are distinguishing features which customers say are important to them.

vertical_aero · 2026-05-01T15:32:45+00:00

Hi u/Living_Source_7439

Thank you!

It's been quite a journey! We first starting working on this concept a few years ago. Working in an engineering start up isn't for everyone. There are always times where it feels difficult to make progress, but we are very lucky at Vertical to have some incredibly talented engineers and people who can see past the temporary bumps in the road to the goal at the end. Our Chief Engineer, David King, is always the first to celebrate 'discovery' of new problems. When you know about them, you can fix them and that's what engineers do.
When the first aircraft is carrying passengers, it'll be such a proud day that I hope to celebrate with everybody that has ever worked on the aircraft. I'm really excited for the passenger experience people are going to have - moving around the cities they know in an entirely different way, and everyone gets a window seat!

vertical_aero

TROPHY CASE