British electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer Vertical Aerospace unveiled its new aircraft model, Valo, and said it is aiming for certification by 2028, marking a step toward commercial electric flight.
Valo is the commercial successor to the VX4 prototype, which completed a piloted flight in the UK earlier this year. The new aircraft is designed for flights of up to 160 kilometres at speeds of up to 240 km/h, with initial use cases focused on routes linking city centres and airports.
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Vertical Aerospace said Valo incorporates design changes based on flight testing and feedback from airlines and operators. The four-passenger aircraft features a redesigned wing and propeller system, an underfloor battery layout, and a more aerodynamic cabin. The battery system consists of eight liquid-cooled packs that can be recharged in about 12 minutes for short missions, while eight electric propulsion units provide built-in redundancy. Total payload capacity is 550 kilograms.
The company said it has secured around 1,500 pre-orders for Valo from customers including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. “With the introduction of Valo, Vertical is evolving from a prototype developer to an aerospace manufacturer,” Chief Executive Stuart Simpson said, adding that the aircraft is designed to make electric flight “a commercial reality—clean, quiet, fast, and designed for daily use.”
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Alongside Valo, Vertical Aerospace is also developing a hybrid-electric version of the VX4 with a range of up to 1,600 kilometres. The company has previously said flight testing of its second-generation hybrid propulsion system is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.