Vertical Aerospace celebrates world premiere of Valo - the UK’s eVTOL

Festive tree lights twinkled outside The Pelligon, a unique event space in the heart of Canary Wharf last week as industry guests lucky to be invited to the ‘world premiere’ of Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL queued with expectation.

The Show didn’t disappoint, Dramatic music, dry ice, compered by British television’s most popular entertainment host, Claudia Winkleman. No wonder the PR team were smiling.

Claudia Winkleman bringing the celebrity to the Valo launch | Photo: Dave Bennett/Getty.

The previous day Claudia was at Windsor Castle receiving an MBE from The King. She bids farewell to BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with the final this Saturday and her success in The Traitors has assured her own primetime chat show next year. Enough of the host. On to the main event.

Valo launch at The Pelligon, Canary Wharf, London.

“Let’s go cock-a-hoop for Vertical Chairman Domnhal Slattery,” declares Claudia. Quite right. He is a powerhouse in Vertical’s journey, taking over as Chair in January 2025 following a long tenure running and scaling up Irish leasing companies SMBC and Avalon Leasing. Avalon was an early Vertical customer with 100 pre-orders.

“After a lifetime in aviation I know how rare moments like this,” he enthused. “We’re determined electric flight will not remain on the margins. It’s more than just an aircraft. We are announcing today a (UK) eco system with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow, the first (electric) air taxi network connecting Canary Wharf to Heathrow, Gatwick, Oxford (Bicester) and Cambridge.

Vertical’s plans for an electric air-taxi network, launched with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow.

Slattery praised Vertical’s incredible engineers, designers, test pilots and investor Jason Mudrick, Mudrick Capital - and his team - for steadfast support these last five years. “We’re not just ready but poised to ‘shape and influence generations with a new experience in the sky. This is a transformative shift for aviation.”

Stuart Simpson, Vertical’s CEO, who’d spent the morning showing the aircraft to non-specialist media, influencers and welcoming the public (“we’ve come to see the electric helicopter”’), heralded Valo’s unveiling as a defining moment for the Bristol-based business. With it, Vertical moves from prototyping to a fully-fledged aerospace manufacturing company, he said. He is confident Vertical will be the first fully ground-up UK aircraft to be certified in the UK - in 43 years. A newly published independent report (from Frontier Economics) states Vertical will create thousands of jobs and generate US$3 million GDP for the UK into 2030.

Chief Secretary to PM and MP for Bristol NW Darren Jones who has Vertical in his constituency, shared his pride. Only a handful of companies globally have achieved full-scale piloted flight in this ‘new class of aircraft.’ Headquartered in Bristol, London, test flights at Cotswolds Airport (Kemble), Britain can still design, build and lead in aerospace, globally, he said, stressing the UK Government has an ambition to see aircraft ‘like this’ flying from 2028.

Vertical’s Valo aircraft and Skyports’ London Heliport.

Vertical, which has a UK CAA permit to fly, plans to commence its first operational phase, post certification in Q1 2029, in the UK’s highest-value mobility corridors. The proposed routes, says AOC operator Bristow, which has pre-ordered 100 Valos, would cut journey times from Canary Wharf to Heathrow from 60/90 to 12 minutes.

Refining the VX4

Valo succeeds the VX4 prototype that Vertical has been flight testing since 2022. The revised design adopts lessons learned from the piloted flight test programme, as well as feedback from airline customers and other prospective operators.

Vertical’s new Valo eVTOL aircraft, which will be flying passengers across the UK network.

Designed to fly 100 miles at up to 150 mph, Valo offers an improved aerodynamic airframe with under-floor battery system, redesigned wing, and new propeller architecture. Avionics and flight control systems are by Honeywell; aerostructures by Aciturri. Syensqo is a newly announced supplier, contributing lightweight composite materials to the airframe.

Let’s raise a glass to the Extraordinary Vertical team, concluded Claudia, passing her own glass on - how far can it stretch, she quipped. For an end of year event in London this one was very fitting. 2026 is going to be a very important (critical) year for Vertical and other advancing players in the advancing future flight market.

If Vertical can win over Republic Airways, the USA’s largest regional airline as a customer, that would he tremendous. Charles Cope, the airline’s Head of AAM told me it was a strong contender. Their decision is expected next year.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 18th December 2025 | Issue #824