PrototypeVertical Aerospace
Valo
Four tilting + four stowable props; production aircraft
Valo is Vertical Aerospace's production air taxi, unveiled in December 2025. It is built on the VX4 prototype programme and is a tilt-rotor with eight propellers and eight electric motors. Vertical's targets are up to 100 miles at up to 150 mph and a 550 kg / 1,200 lb payload at entry into service, with a pilot and four passengers at launch. The cabin is designed to grow to six passengers. It has eight liquid-cooled under-floor battery packs, which Vertical targets for about a 12-minute short-mission recharge, and it targets under 50 dBA in cruise. Valo itself has not flown: certification-conforming aircraft follow a Critical Design Review due at the end of 2026. The VX4 prototypes have flown piloted transitions. In July 2026 Vertical moved its UK CAA/EASA type-certification target from 2028 to 2029, and in September 2026 it began a review of strategic alternatives. A fleet aircraft, not sold to private owners. The flying VX4 prototype is under More models.
- Range
- Up to 100 mi (Vertical target)
(varies with speed, reserves, and how the pilot flies the mission).
- Payload
- 550 kg / 1,200 lb at entry into service (Vertical target)
- Cruise
- 150 mph (Vertical target)
(chosen by the pilot, and traded against range and endurance).
- Top speed
- Up to 150 mph (Vertical target)
- Flight time
- Not published
(varies with the speed the pilot selects and the reserves kept for the mission).
- Price
- Not published
- Seats
- 4 + pilot (flex 6)
- Battery / fuel
- Eight liquid-cooled under-floor packs
- Charge
- About 12 min short-mission recharge (Vertical target)
- First flight
- Not yet flown (certification-conforming Valo to be built after Critical Design Review, due end 2026)
- Entry into service
- Type certification expected 2029 (Vertical target; moved from 2028)
Full figures
- Seats
- 1 pilot + 4 passengers at launch; cabin designed for up to 6 passengers plus observer seat
- Range / speed
- up to 100 mi at up to 150 mph (Vertical targets)
- Payload
- 550 kg / 1,200 lb at entry into service (Vertical target)
- Luggage
- 6 cabin bags + 6 checked bags
- Propulsion
- 8 electric motors (EPUs), each on multiple isolated power lanes; 8 propellers
- Battery
- 8 liquid-cooled under-floor packs, Vertical's own battery technology
- Recharge
- about 12 min short mission (Vertical target)
- Noise
- under 50 dBA in cruise (Vertical target)
- Flight controls
- Honeywell avionics and flight control system
- Cert path
- UK CAA / EASA SC-VTOL Enhanced (10⁻⁹); TC expected 2029
- Programme
- Critical Design Review due end 2026; prototypes (VX4) flew piloted transition in 2026
For
- Published targets: 100 mi, 150 mph, 550 kg payload, 4–6 passengers
- Airliner-level SC-VTOL Enhanced certification path
Against
- Not for private sale
- Production aircraft has not flown yet
- Type certification slipped to 2029; strategic review under way