LONDON & NEW YORK, July 18 –Vertical Aerospace (“Vertical”) (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, plans to conduct the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demonstration flights to take place at the Farnborough International Airshow (20-24 July 2026), marking another significant milestone as the company advances towards certification and commercial service.
The demonstrations come at an important point in Vertical’s evolution. Over the past year, the company has launched its commercial aircraft, Valo, completed successful piloted transition flights, strengthened its balance sheet, expanded its global technology ecosystem, advanced its hybrid-electric defence strategy and continued to execute against its certification programme. Having demonstrated the aircraft’s core capabilities, Vertical is now focused on the next phase of its strategy – executing towards certification, industrialisation and commercialisation.
As well as public piloted flight demonstrations of its full-scale prototype, Vertical will also display its full-scale commercial model of Valo.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace:
“Vertical arrives at Farnborough with the key building blocks now in place. Over the past year we’ve transformed the business – from launching Valo and achieving piloted transition to strengthening our financial position and expanding our industrial ecosystem. We’ve proven the technology. Our focus now is executing the roadmap to certification, industrialisation and commercial service. Every milestone we deliver reduces risk, strengthens our competitive position and brings us closer to building one of the world’s leading electric aerospace companies.”
Vertical Aerospace’s key activations at the airshow include:
FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS
Vertical intends to conduct public demonstration flights throughout the show – the first by an eVTOL aircraft at Farnborough International Airshow – subject to approved flight conditions.
The planned demonstration flights follow the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s recent expansion of Vertical’s Permit to Fly, authorising the company to conduct its first public demonstration flights away from its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport.
Since receiving the approval, Vertical’s test pilots have successfully flown into multiple airports, including RAF Brize Norton, RAF Benson, Blackbushe Airport and Farnborough Airport, broadening its flight test programme and building experience across multiple operating environments as it progresses towards certification and commercial service.
Attendees to the show can follow the latest on Vertical’s demonstration flight times by joining the Vertical Aerospace Farnborough International Airshow 2026 WhatsApp channel.
EXPERIENCE VALO
Visitors can explore the full-scale commercial model of Valo in Hall 4 and meet the team developing one of the world’s most advanced electric aircraft. Valo is built on the successes of Vertical’s full-scale prototype which is flying at the airshow.
Vertical arrives at Farnborough with one of the industry’s strongest aerospace technology ecosystems, working alongside global partners including Honeywell Aerospace, Aciturri, Evolito, Hyundai WIA, Syensqo, Sonaca and Isoclima. The company also has approximately 1,500 conditional pre-orders from customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines.
This week, Vertical also announced a strategic partnership with Near Earth Autonomy to integrate advanced autonomous flight capability into Valo, supporting future defence and commercial applications.
HEAR FROM VERTICAL’S LEADERSHIP
Throughout Farnborough, Vertical executives will join industry leaders to discuss the future of Advanced Air Mobility and the steps required to bring electric aviation into commercial service.
Monday, 20 July | 11:15–12:00
Hall 3 – AGN Theatre 1L | UK Leadership in Advanced Air Mobility
The UK has emerged as one of the world’s leading advanced air mobility ecosystems, combining pioneering aircraft development, progressive regulation, world-class operators and a strong aerospace heritage. But what will it take to turn that early lead into commercial success?
Confirmed Speakers:
- Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair, UK Civil Aviation Authority (Moderator)
- Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive, Vertical Aerospace
- David Stepanek, Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer, Bristow Group
- Giancarlo Buono, Group Director, Safety & Aerospace Regulation, UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Andy Sage, Director of Safety Transformations, NATS & Co-Chair, Future Flight Industry Group
- Ajita Hathlia, Deputy Director for Aviation Safety, Innovations and Skills, Department of Transport
Tuesday, 21 July | 15:00 – 16:00
Hall 4 – AGN Theater | Inside the eVTOL Market
Stuart Simpson will also participate in a Cantor Fitzgerald hosted panel at the show’s inaugural Finance Summit connecting financial institutions with global aerospace leaders at Farnborough. Simpson will join other CEOs on an “Inside the eVTOL Market” panel focusing on the electric vertical takeoff and landing sector, its current progress and vision for flight.
Confirmed panelists include:
- Stuart Simpson, Vertical Aerospace CEO
- Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder & CEO
- JoeBen Bevirt, JOBY’s Founder & CEO
- Adam Goldstein, ACHR’s Founder & CEO
LOOKING AHEAD
As Vertical advances towards certification and entry into service, the Company expects to achieve several important programme milestones:
- Critical Design Review (CDR): Expects to complete by the end of 2026, establishing the certifiable design baseline for its aircraft and enabling the build and test of certification-conforming aircraft.
- Industrialisation: Bringing the early production aircraft assembly facility online during Q3 2026 and expanding the Vertical Energy Centre in Q4 2026.
- Hybrid-electric programme: Selecting a long-term turbogenerator supplier during 2026 ahead of hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027.