There are more solutions than obstacles. Nicolas Zart
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled the final iteration of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), the Valo (PDF). This production-ready aircraft succeeds the VX4 prototype (PDF). The Valo highlights Vertical’s pushing beyond what we’ve come to expect from previous designs. It incorporates airline feedback, test flight data, and partnerships with Honeywell, Syensqo, and Aciturri for enhanced aerodynamics, under-floor batteries, redesigned wings, and full redundancy to meet airliner safety standards.
Valo: Built for Commercial Service
Valo targets a 100-mile range at speeds up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions. The aircraft aims for Type Certification from the UK CAA and EASA in 2028, enabling entry into commercial service shortly after. Early routes will connect airports to city centers, addressing premium urban air mobility needs.
Key design advances include:
- More aerodynamic airframe from thousands of VX4 test data points
- Under-floor battery configuration for better weight distribution
- Redesigned propellers and upgraded composite materials
- Full certifiable redundancy across critical flight systems
Vertical will build seven certification aircraft in the UK to complete piloted testing, including full transition from hover to forward flight – the defining eVTOL maneuver.
Premium Cabin, Unmatched Luggage
Valo’s interior launches with four premium seats featuring panoramic windows, generous legroom, and a cockpit divider for privacy and safety. The flexible design scales to six seats as battery energy density improves, potentially cutting direct operating costs per seat by 30% and doubling profitability.
Crucially, Valo offers the largest cargo capacity in its class: space for six cabin bags and six checked bags. This addresses a key airline pain point for airport-to-downtown services where passengers expect full luggage options.
The platform supports diverse missions, including air ambulance, cargo, and future autonomous/hybrid variants. Watch Vertical’s Valo video tour.
UK Air Taxi Network: Canary Wharf to Heathrow in 12 Minutes
Vertical announced the UK’s first electric air taxi network with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group. Launching Q1 2029, routes from Canary Wharf heliport will serve Heathrow (12 minutes vs. 60-90 by road), Gatwick, Cambridge, and Oxford.
This builds on the OxCam AAM Corridor demonstrator and Bristow’s pre-order for up to 100 Valo aircraft plus Ready-to-Fly services (aircraft, pilots, maintenance).
French Riviera Expansion with Héli Air Monaco
Héli Air Monaco, the Riviera’s pioneering helicopter operator, signed an MoU for Valo aircraft. The fleet will connect Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez with quiet, zero-emission flights.
Supported by Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Monaco Heliport, Valo will integrate into premium transfers while preserving the region’s environment. The initial four-seat configuration scales to six, maintaining the largest luggage capacity.
Economic Impact: £3 Billion Boost
An independent Frontier Economics report projects Vertical will create 2,000+ UK high-skill jobs and contribute £3 billion annually to the economy by 2035. Valo marks Britain’s first new commercial aircraft design in over 30 years.
Why Valo Matters for Advanced Air Mobility
Valo addresses three critical commercial hurdles: safety (10^-9 certification), economics (scalable seating, low DOC), and practicality (full luggage). With certification-gated timelines and ecosystem partnerships, Vertical demonstrates production readiness as the eVTOL market nears 2028-2030 commercialization.
Compared to peers, Valo’s airline-derived design prioritizes operator needs over speed records. As Electric Air Mobility previously covered, infrastructure like Skyports Vertiports, and proven operators like Bristow accelerate viable networks.
Related reading: AAM Master Class Vancouver 2026 prepares airport leaders for aircraft like Valo.