Vertical Aerospace
VX4
Full-scale prototype that Valo is based on
Vertical Aerospace's full-scale, piloted tilt-rotor eVTOL prototype, flown under UK CAA oversight. The first VX4 lifted off tethered in September 2022. The current prototype completed wingborne testing in 2025 (250 miles flown, up to 120 kt / 138 mph and 2,000 ft) and on 14 April 2026 made a two-way piloted transition from vertical take-off to wingborne flight and back to a vertical landing. VX4 won't enter service: Valo is Vertical's production aircraft, with certification targeted for 2028. Range, payload, battery capacity, flight time and price are not published for the prototype.
- Range
- Not published
(varies with speed, reserves, and how the pilot flies the mission).
- Payload
- Not published
- Cruise
- Not published
(chosen by the pilot, and traded against range and endurance).
- Top speed
- 138 mph (120 kt) reached in flight test
- Flight time
- Not published
(varies with the speed the pilot selects and the reserves kept for the mission).
- Price
- Not published
- Seats
- Pilot only in flight test (designed for pilot + 4)
- Battery / fuel
- Battery-electric, Vertical's own battery packs (capacity not published)
- First flight
- September 2022 (first VX4, piloted tethered)
- Entry into service
- Not planned (Valo is the production aircraft; certification targeted 2028)
Full figures
- Role
- Full-scale piloted flight-test prototype
- Flight test (current prototype)
- tethered Sep 2024; thrustborne Feb 2025; wingborne Sep 2025; two-way piloted transition 14 Apr 2026
- Wingborne tests (2025)
- 250 mi / 400 km flown, up to 120 kt (138 mph) and 2,000 ft
- First prototype
- damaged in an uncrewed test on 9 Aug 2023 (nobody on board)
- Original VX4 design targets (2022)
- pilot + 4, up to 100 mi, cruise around 150 mph
- Successor
- Valo (first flight planned 2027, certification targeted 2028)
- Company
- Vertical Aerospace Ltd (NYSE: EVTL), Bristol, UK; strategic review launched 24 Sep 2026
For
- Completed a two-way piloted transition (April 2026)
Against
- Prototype only — Valo is the aircraft they intend to certify