Vertical Aerospace
The UK programme, rebuilt. The VX4 prototype cleared piloted transition in April 2026 and the production aircraft has been redesigned and renamed Valo.
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is the leading British programme, listed on the NYSE as EVTL and based in Bristol. Its VX4 prototype completed piloted wingborne transition in April 2026, a milestone only a handful of programmes worldwide have reached.
In December 2025 the company retired the VX4 name for its production aircraft and unveiled Valo, a redesigned airframe shaped by the piloted test campaign and by operator feedback. Valo has a more aerodynamic wing and propeller architecture, a shorter and rounder nose, downturned wingtips, and a premium four-seat cabin whose door geometry is designed to accommodate up to six seats in later variants. It also adopts a hybrid powertrain to extend range beyond what the battery-only VX4 could achieve. First flight is planned for 2027 with certification in 2028.
The company came close to failure. Founder Stephen Fitzpatrick resigned in January 2025 and Mudrick Capital converted debt to take roughly 70 percent ownership, followed by a late-2025 term sheet worth up to USD 850 million through 2027. Vertical reports about 1,500 conditional pre-orders with a nominal value near USD 6 billion.
Fleet Overview
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Strategic Partnerships
- American Airlines
- Avolon
- Virgin Atlantic
- Bristow
- Honeywell
- Rolls-Royce
