Advanced Air Mobility Modern Flying

Autonomous, VTOL Aircraft Tech Debuts at Oshkosh, Farnborough

Merlin Labs lands AI pilot-powered Cessna, and Vertical Aerospace completes a hover-to-fixed-wing transition.

Monday, July 27, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

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An eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi prototype developed by Vertical Aerospace transitioned from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. [Credit: Vertical Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Merlin Labs successfully demonstrated an autonomous landing of its Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, equipped with the AI-powered Merlin Pilot system, at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, marking a potential first for a conventional fixed-wing aircraft at the event.
At the Farnborough International Airshow, Vertical Aerospace showcased a significant milestone for eVTOL technology by demonstrating its Valo prototype's transition from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back during a public flight.

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This year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the U.K.’s Farnborough International Airshow lived up to their reputations as they showcased novel aircraft technology that could one day become normalized.

Boston-based Merlin Labs provided a possible glimpse of the future at Oshkosh, landing its autonomous Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Wittman Regional Airport’s (KOSH) Runway 27 on July 17, it said. CEO Matt George in a statement said Merlin believes the autonomous landing was the first by a conventional fixed-wing aircraft in AirVenture history, though it took place a few days before the show officially began.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.