Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) completes piloted eVTOL transition, targets 2028 Valo certification

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vertical Aerospace Ltd. reports a major test milestone, completing a two-way piloted transition flight of its full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL under direct UK CAA oversight in collaboration with EASA. This flight, performed on 14 April 2026, marks completion of Phase 4 prototype tests, proving smooth transitions between vertical “helicopter” and wingborne “airplane” modes in a single runway-free flight.

The company now plans to advance to the next certification stage, including critical design review and building seven pre-production Valo aircraft in the UK for compliance and verification testing. Vertical is targeting certification of its all‑electric Valo aircraft by 2028, positioning for future commercial operations with an order pipeline and global airline partners.

Insights

Aerospace and certification analyst

Vertical clears a key flight-test hurdle but still faces lengthy certification work.

Vertical Aerospace has now demonstrated full piloted transition flight in its eVTOL prototype under UK CAA and EASA collaboration. This validates the core flight envelope needed for air-taxi operations and completes Phase 4 testing, moving the project into a more documentation- and compliance-heavy stage.

The company plans a critical design review and the build of seven pre‑production Valo aircraft in the UK for verification testing toward a 2028 certification target. Achieving formal Type Certification with the CAA and EASA remains complex and time-consuming, and execution on manufacturing, testing, and regulatory engagement will determine how quickly this technical progress translates into commercial service.

Key Figures

Certification target year: 2028 Valo design range: 100 miles Valo design speed: 150 mph +4 more

7 metrics

Certification target year 2028 Target year for Valo aircraft certification

Valo design range 100 miles Planned maximum flight range for Valo eVTOL

Valo design speed 150 mph Planned maximum speed for Valo eVTOL

Pre-production aircraft 7 aircraft Pre-production Valo units to be built in UK for testing

Valo pre-orders c.1,500 pre-orders Indicative order book across four continents

Projected ecosystem jobs over 2,000 jobs Expected UK ecosystem size by 2035

Transition flight date 14 April 2026 Date of two-way piloted transition flight

Key Terms

eVTOL, Design Organisation Approval, Type Certification, vertiport, +2 more

6 terms

eVTOL technical

"full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL and the first to do so under civil aviation"

eVTOL stands for "electric vertical takeoff and landing" aircraft, which are small, electric-powered vehicles capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter. They are designed to provide quick, on-demand transportation within cities or between locations, potentially transforming urban mobility. For investors, eVTOLs represent a growing segment of innovative transportation technology with potential for significant market impact and future growth.

Design Organisation Approval regulatory

"first to do so under civil aviation Design Organisation Approval regulatory oversight"

A design organisation approval is an official certification that lets a company legally create, change, and approve technical designs for complex regulated products (for example aircraft, medical devices, or similar systems). For investors, it signals that the company meets strict safety and quality standards, can sell design services or stamped products, and may access higher-margin work—similar to a trusted seal that opens new business and revenue opportunities.

Type Certification regulatory

"working in close collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) toward Type Certification of Valo"

Type certification is an official approval from a regulatory authority that a specific design of an aircraft, engine, or other regulated product meets required safety and performance standards. For investors, it is like a government-issued building permit: without it the product cannot be sold or put into commercial use, while earning it reduces regulatory risk, unlocks revenue potential, and increases the value and credibility of the manufacturer.

vertiport technical

"take off vertically from a city-centre vertiport or rooftop with passengers"

A vertiport is a designated landing and takeoff area for small, vertical-takeoff aircraft, such as air taxis or drones, often resembling a small airport or helipad but designed for vertical flights. It matters to investors because the development of vertiports signals growth in urban air mobility, which could transform transportation systems and create new business opportunities in crowded cities.

pre-orders financial

"Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents"

forward-looking statements regulatory

"This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

Form 6-K: How Foreign Companies Report to the SEC →

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13A-16 OR 15D-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of April 2026

Commission File Number: 001-41169

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street

Bristol BS2 0UW

United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  x            Form 40-F  ¨

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K

Achievement of Two-Way Piloted Transition Flight

On April 16, 2026, Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (the “Company”) announced its successful completion of a two-way piloted transition flight under the direct oversight of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), working in close collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The successful two-way transition flight marks the completion of Phase 4 of the Company’s prototype flight tests, the final phase which tests the aircraft’s ability to shift seamlessly between vertical lift (“helicopter mode”) and wingborne flight (“airplane mode”) and from airplane mode back again to helicopter mode, all in a single continous flight without the need for a runway.

The Company is targeting certification of its planned all-electric certification and production aircraft, Valo, by 2028. With the completion of Phase 4 testing, the Company now plans to move to the next stage of certification by preparing for commerial operations.

On April 16, 2026, the Company issued a press release in relation to the completion of the two-way piloted transition flight, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K (the “Form 6-K”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this Form 6-K that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the certification and the commercialization of our aircraft and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, and statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 24, 2026, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The information included in this Report on Form 6-K (excluding Exhibit 99.1) is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File No. 333-270756, File No. 333-284763, File No. 333-287207 and File No. 333-292448) (including any prospectuses forming a part of such registration statements) and to be a part thereof from the date on which this Report on Form 6-K is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. dated April 16, 2026.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Vertical Aerospace Ltd.
Date: April 16, 2026	By:	/s/ Stuart Simpson
		Stuart Simpson
		Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 99.1

Vertical Aerospace Achieves World First Two-Way Piloted Transition Flight

· First eVTOL to complete two-way piloted transition – switching from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back again - under civil aviation Design Organisation Approval regulatory oversight

· Advances Valo’s path to certification, targeted for 2028, with entry into service expected shortly thereafter on routes such as Canary Wharf to Heathrow and JFK to Manhattan

· Reinforces UK leadership in next-generation aerospace, supporting high-skill jobs and export growth

London, UK & New York, USA – 16 April 2026 – Vertical Aerospace (“Vertical” or “the Company”) (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, has successfully completed a historic two-way piloted transition flight.

WATCH TWO WAY TRANSITION VIDEO

On 14 April 2026, Vertical became the second company globally to complete a two-way piloted transition flight in a full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL and the first to do so under civil aviation Design Organisation Approval regulatory oversight.

Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies completed the flight – transitioning from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing - all in one continuous flight. This builds on Vertical’s thrustborne transition on 2 April 2026 and marks the completion of two-way transition, the defining capability of eVTOL aviation.

Put simply, this is what makes electric air taxis possible. Transition flight validates the technology which will enable Valo, Vertical’s commercial aircraft, to take off vertically from a city-centre vertiport or rooftop with passengers, fly efficiently at speed like an airplane, and land vertically at its destination – comfortably, quietly and without a runway. This unlocks planned real-world routes such as Canary Wharf to Heathrow or JFK to Manhattan, making them operationally and commercially viable.

Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: “This is now the most significant technical milestone in our history. 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. We’re not just participating in this industry - we are helping to define it. Our focus now is on executing our roadmap and bringing certified electric flight into commercial service.”

Path to Certification

As with all Vertical flight tests since 2023, this milestone was achieved under the direct oversight of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who are working in close collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) toward Type Certification of Valo. Testing is conducted under Vertical’s Design Organisation Approval, a pre-requisite for entry into service.

With all phases of flight now proven - vertical take-off, wingborne flight and transition between the two - Vertical is moving into the next stage of certification testing. This will include critical design review, when the aircraft design is locked, followed by the build of seven pre-production Valo aircraft in the UK for compliance and verification testing with the CAA and EASA.

Vertical is targeting certification of Valo in 2028 to the highest safety standards in the category, with entry into service expected shortly thereafter. The certification approach is designed to be transferable to other regulators, including the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), supporting global deployment with airline and operating partners including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines.

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Steve Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, American Airlines, said: “Advanced air mobility represents a natural extension of American’s broader commitment to innovation and shaping the next era of aviation. As both an investor and long-term supporter of Vertical Aerospace, we share a clear ambition to make safe, scalable, and sustainable eVTOL flight a reality, and today's news is a foundational step toward that end. Together, we’re not just imagining the future of travel, we’re actively building it.”

UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, said: “This is a fantastic milestone not only for Vertical, but for the UK’s position in the future of aerospace as we continue to lead the way on zero emission flight.

“Through our Industrial Strategy and the Aerospace Technology Institute we’re backing companies like Vertical who are demonstrating the kind of innovation, engineering excellence and export potential that can keep Britain at the forefront of the global aerospace industry, and create high-skilled jobs for local people.”

Bob Buddecke, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace, said: “Successful transition flight represents meaningful progress not only for Vertical, but for the entire advanced air mobility industry.

“Our Compact Fly-by-Wire team worked closely with Vertical’s team to help enable the successful flight, and we expect countless more to come. Vertical’s progress underscores the strength of our joint engineering approach and the importance of disciplined system integration in bringing next-generation aircraft to market.”

A Major Opportunity for the UK

As Europe’s only eVTOL developer to achieve full piloted transition, this milestone reinforces the UK’s position at the forefront of next-generation aerospace.

Vertical expects its UK-based manufacturing and supply chain to support thousands of high-skilled jobs and significant export growth, with its ecosystem projected to grow to over 2,000 jobs by 2035.

Progressing Key Strategic Milestones

Vertical will continue its focus on executing key strategic milestones over the next twelve months and beyond. These include public flight demonstrations, including at Farnborough International Airshow in July, progression of the hybrid-electric demonstrator, expansion of the Vertical Energy Center, advancement of the manufacturing facility, and production of the first full-scale Valo certification aircraft.

ENDS

Vertical’s piloted flight test programme explainer:

· Phase 1: Tethered – stabilised hover while tethered (Completed September 2024)

· Phase 2: Thrustborne – vertical take-off, landing and low-speed manoeuvres (Completed February 2025)

· Phase 3: Wingborne – conventional take-off, flight and landing (Completed September 2025)

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· Phase 4: Transition – transitioning between thrustborne and wingborne flight

o Thrustborne transition (vertical take-off to wingborne flight): Completed April 2026

o Two-way transition (including return to vertical landing): Completed April 2026

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel. Valo is a piloted, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions, designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market.

Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including Honeywell, Syensqo, Evolito, Isoclima and Aciturri, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of our aircraft and the hybrid-electric variant; certification and the commercialization of our aircraft and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all; the features and capabilities of the aircraft; business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected; selection of suppliers; the differential strategy compared to our peer group; expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments; as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 24, 2026, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

For more information:

Justin Bates, Head of Communications justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com +44 7878 357463 

Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +447816 459 904 

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FAQ

What milestone did Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) announce in this Form 6-K?

Vertical Aerospace announced completion of a historic two-way piloted transition flight in its full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL. The aircraft transitioned from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing in a single continuous flight, proving the defining capability needed for electric air taxi operations.

How does the two-way piloted transition flight support Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL plans?

The flight validates Valo’s ability to take off and land vertically while cruising efficiently like an airplane. This capability underpins planned routes such as Canary Wharf–Heathrow or JFK–Manhattan, making them operationally and commercially viable within an air-taxi network using electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

What is Vertical Aerospace’s certification timeline for the Valo aircraft?

Vertical Aerospace is targeting certification of its all-electric Valo aircraft by 2028. Following the completed transition flight, the company plans critical design review and construction of seven pre-production aircraft for compliance and verification testing with the UK CAA and EASA toward eventual commercial entry into service.

Which regulators are overseeing Vertical Aerospace’s eVTOL flight tests and certification path?

Flight tests are conducted under direct oversight of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency toward Type Certification of Valo. The company also aims to make its certification approach transferable to regulators such as the FAA, ANAC, and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.

What scale of operations does Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) foresee from its UK base?

Vertical highlights that, as Europe’s only eVTOL developer to achieve full piloted transition, its UK manufacturing and supply chain could support thousands of high-skilled roles. The broader ecosystem is projected to grow to over 2,000 jobs by 2035, reinforcing the UK’s advanced aerospace position.

How far and how fast is Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL designed to fly?

Valo is designed as a piloted eVTOL aircraft with zero operating emissions, able to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph. This range and speed support short-haul urban and regional routes while aiming to deliver quieter, runway-free air mobility from vertiports or rooftops.

What customer interest and partnerships has Vertical Aerospace secured for Valo?

Vertical reports approximately 1,500 pre-orders for Valo from customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines. Some obligations are expected to be met through third-party agreements as the company advances toward certification and eventual commercial service deployment.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

1 document

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 21.1 KB