Leading American electric air taxi developers Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, and Wisk Aero are primed to contend with at least one European competitor.
U.K.-based Vertical Aerospace on Thursday revealed that it is the first European company to complete a full transition flight with a full-scale, prototype eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) model.
Earlier this week, Vertical chief test pilot Simon Davies spooled up the aircraft’s eight propellers, brought it into a hover, accelerated into wingborne flight, and decelerated back to hover for a vertical landing. Four front propellers tilted forward to support cruise flight, while four rear vertical lift propellers stowed away.
The importance of the transition flight to an eVTOL certification program cannot be overstated. It demonstrates the defining, most complex capability of the design—the ability to lift off without a runway like a helicopter and cruise on fixed wings like a jet.
Vertical envisions its flagship Valo air taxi flying between city centers and airports such as John F. Kennedy International (KJFK) and London Heathrow (EGLL). Installing a runway within bustling urban meccas would be tricky. But many large cities already have heliports that could be electrified for a new cohort of VTOL-capable air taxis.
Vertical is the second manufacturer to complete a full, piloted transition flight with a full-scale tiltrotor prototype, after Joby did so one year ago. Beta began piloted transition flights with its Alia VTOL, which has rigid vertical lift propellers, in 2024. Archer’s tiltrotor prototype also made its first transition that year, but the company has yet to complete the maneuver with pilots.
Vertical said it is also the first manufacturer to complete the milestone under the “direct oversight” of the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, which awarded its design organization approval (DOA)—required for manufacturers seeking to type certify a new design—in 2023.
“This is now the most significant technical milestone in our history,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical, in a statement. “Full piloted transition is the most critical and complex challenge in eVTOL development, and we’ve achieved it under more rigorous regulatory oversight than anyone in the category.”
Piloted transition flights are the final stage of Vertical’s prototype flight test campaign. Soon, it will advance to critical design review, during which the design of Valo is “locked.” It will build seven Valo aircraft for compliance testing with the CAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Vertical is targeting concurrent CAA and EASA certification in 2028, with entry into service shortly after. The company said its certification is “designed to be transferable” to regulators in the U.S., Brazil, and Japan, where its customers plan to fly.
American Airlines, one of the largest, has a conditional preorder for up to 250 Valo aircraft and has paid to reserve delivery slots for 50.
“Advanced air mobility represents a natural extension of American’s broader commitment to innovation and shaping the next era of aviation,” said Steve Johnson, vice chair and chief strategy officer for American.
Europe’s Air Taxi Leader
The regulatory environment in Europe has been brutal for electric air taxis. Germany’s Volocopter and Lilium, once considered leaders in the industry after spending years developing aircraft, both folded in 2025.
“Every one of the competitors in Europe is bankrupt now because of the regulatory environment,” Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta, said Tuesday at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C. “They got way over their skis, put in very tight regulations, made it almost impossible financially to develop an aircraft.”
Clark positioned the U.S. and China as the hegemonic powers in advanced air mobility (AAM). But the U.K. too is supporting the technology through a 10-year, over $3 billion investment in the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), which funds AAM research and development.
Vertical is one of the ATI’s crown jewels. The company in December unveiled Valo, which is primed to compete with Joby, Archer, Beta, and Wisk in cities such as New York and Miami. The air taxi at launch will carry four passengers but according to Vertical could later carry six, which would beat its U.S. rivals.
Valo has an expected range of about 100 miles, with capacity for up to 1,200 pounds and space for up to six checked and six carry-on bags. A hybrid-electric variant could fly up to 300 nm without sacrificing payload. Controls comprise a simple joystick, three flight control computers, and Honeywell’s Anthem flight deck and fly-by-wire system.
Per Vertical, potential use cases for Valo—in addition to airport to city center flights—include commuter flights, sightseeing trips, medical transfers, and shuttles to events at venues such as MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Vertical has said it will cost about $700 million to complete Valo’s certification program. The company had about $93 million at the end of 2025 and in March raised $50 million. It has an agreement in principle to raise a further $800 million, the bulk of it coming from a 36-month equity line of credit that could be accessed “from time to time.”
Vertical in March said it plans to spend about $195 million over the next 12 months. During that time, it is planning public flight demonstrations at events such as the Farnborough International Airshow in July.
