Vertical Aerospace has completed a world-first two-way piloted transition flight with a full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft.

The major milestone flight test, performed by chief pilot Simon Davies on April 14, was conducted under oversight from the civil aviation Design Organization Approval.

During the flight, the aircraft took off vertically, transitioned to wing-borne cruise flight, and returned for a vertical landing in a single continuous sequence. 

Vertical Aerospace’s two-way piloted transition flight

Vertical Aerospace’s new milestone comes hot on the heels of a one-way thrustborne transition flight it completed on April 2. The latest flight test marks the completion of all major flight phases for the company’s Valo aircraft.

The Valo flight was the second full transition piloted flight after the first conducted by Joby Aviation last year. However, Vertical’s was the first to be flown under official civil aviation Design Organization Approval regulatory oversight. The flight took place under the direct supervision of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is collaborating with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency on Valo’s type certification.

Transition capability is central to eVTOL operations. It allows the aircraft to lift off from a vertiport or rooftop, fly efficiently at speed like a conventional airplane, and land vertically at its destination without requiring a runway. In a press statement, Vertical noted that the achievement validates the technology needed for planned routes, such as Canary Wharf to Heathrow in London and JFK to Manhattan in New York.

“Full piloted transition is the most critical and complex challenge in eVTOL development, and we’ve achieved it under more rigorous regulatory oversight than anyone in the category,” said Stuart Simpson, Vertical Aerospace CEO.

“We’re not just participating in this industry—we are helping to define it. Our focus now is on executing our roadmap and bringing certified electric flight into commercial service.”

Vertical targets certification by 2028

With vertical take-off, wingborne flight, and both directions of transition now demonstrated, Vertical will proceed to critical design review and the construction of seven pre-production Valo aircraft in the UK for compliance testing.

According to Vertical, it aims to obtain certification by 2028, with entry into service expected shortly thereafter. The approach is intended to support regulatory approvals, including those from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Vertical claims it holds approximately 1,500 pre-orders for Valo from customers on four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines. The four-passenger aircraft is designed for zero operating emissions, a range of up to 100 miles, and a cruise speed of up to 150 mph.

According to American Airlines chief strategy officer Steve Johnson, the new milestone represents a “foundational step” toward safe, scalable eVTOL flight. UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle, meanwhile, called it “a fantastic milestone” for Britain’s position in zero-emission aviation.

Vertical Aerospace, headquartered in Bristol, expects its UK manufacturing and supply chain to support thousands of high-skilled jobs and export growth by 2035. Public flight demonstrations are planned, including at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.