Vertical Aerospace makes history at Farnborough with first public eVTOL transition flight

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, made history on Monday (20th July) by completing the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight at Farnborough International Airshow, switching from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back again.

At 1:46PM local time, in front of a global audience of aerospace leaders, regulators, operators and media, Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, flew Vertical's full-scale prototype, completing a transition flight by moving from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing. The flight marks another historic first for Farnborough and a major milestone for the advanced air mobility industry, demonstrating how electric aviation is moving from concept to commercial reality.

From Samuel Cody's pioneering powered flight in Britain in 1908 to the Airbus A380's public debut in 2006, Farnborough has been the backdrop to many of aviation's defining moments. Monday's demonstration adds electric aviation to that legacy.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace said, "For more than a century, Farnborough has been the stage where aviation's next chapter has been written. Today, we're proud that Vertical has added another first to that remarkable history. Successfully demonstrating a public transition flight here is more than a technical milestone - it is proof that electric aviation is moving from promise to commercial reality."

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group, the UK trade association advancing aerospace, defence and security and space, added: “Vertical’s successful flight is another important milestone for UK aerospace innovation and a strong signal of the momentum building behind the UK’s advanced air mobility sector. It shows how British companies are helping shape the next generation of aerospace technologies and turning innovation into real-world capability right here at Farnborough Airshow."

“Today's flight by Vertical is a significant moment in the delivery of eVTOL capability and a fantastic example of the pioneering aerospace innovation happening in the UK," said Gary Elliott, CEO of Aerospace Technology Institute. "We have been a proud supporter of Vertical’s technology development for some time through the ATI Programme and this flight is proof of the transformative power of government and industry jointly supporting innovation across the aerospace supply chain.”

Gareth Rogers, CEO, Farnborough International Airshow concluded: “Farnborough International Airshow has always been a place where the future of aerospace is not only imagined, but seen for the first time. To witness Vertical's eVTOL aircraft take to the skies here marks an extraordinary moment for our industry, for the history of the show and British aviation. This milestone now joins Farnborough’s proud legacy of pioneering ‘firsts’, from landmark aircraft debuts to breakthrough technologies that have shaped the direction of flight. Seeing Vertical Aerospace demonstrate this new era of electric aviation at Farnborough is a powerful reminder of the role that British engineering and the airshow continues to play as a global stage for innovation, ambition and progress.”

Vertical's successful demonstration caps a year of significant commercial and technology milestones and highlights the growing momentum behind the UK's advanced air mobility sector. Vertical recently announced a strategic partnership with Near Earth Autonomy to integrate advanced autonomous flight capability into Valo, supporting future defence and commercial applications and today announced Sigma Air Mobility, an advanced air mobility operator and member of the Luxaviation Group, as a new customer.

UK Government backs UK production plans

In further news, Vertical is in advanced discussions with the UK Government over a support package aimed at securing the company's first full-scale production facilities in the UK for its Valo electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The proposed package includes up to £10m ($13.5m) in grant funding as Vertical completes the selection of UK sites for final aircraft assembly and battery manufacturing. A final location is expected to be announced before the end of the year. Producing the aircraft in the UK would also simplify certification by keeping both the design and production approvals under the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

The wider package includes cross-government support to help Vertical transition from prototype development to full-scale manufacturing. This includes Ministry of Defence interest in potential defence applications for the company's eVTOL, hybrid-electric and autonomous technologies, a Memorandum of Understanding with UK Export Finance to support export and customer financing, and continued backing from Innovate UK.

Vertical expects its first production facilities to create around 700 direct jobs by 2030 while strengthening the UK's aerospace supply chain and advanced manufacturing sector. If approved, total direct UK Government grant funding awarded to the company would reach up to £48m ($64m).

CEO Stuart Simpson described the proposed support as "a major vote of confidence" in both Vertical and the UK's aerospace industry, adding that it provides a clear route from innovation to industrial-scale production. The Valo is expected to become the first all-new aircraft designed and built in the UK for more than 30 years.

The proposed funding remains subject to legal, due diligence, subsidy control and ministerial approvals, while the agreement with UK Export Finance is non-binding.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 23rd July 2026 | Issue #852