7 April 2026
+ VIDEO Vertical Aerospace has completed a milestone on its journey to bring its electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to production. The company successfully flew a piloted full-scale eVTOL through thrustborne transition for the first time with the UK CAA watching.
The flight took place on 2 April 2026 at Cotswold Airport (Kemble), where test pilot Paul Stone lifted the aircraft vertically before smoothly transitioning into wingborne flight, effectively combining helicopter-style take-off with fixed-wing cruise.
The manoeuvre is regarded as one of the most complex challenges. It marks the halfway point in achieving full two-way transition, which will ultimately allow the aircraft to take off and land vertically without a runway.
Vertical says the aircraft performed “exactly as designed”, with a stable and controlled transition as lift shifted from rotors to wings in real-world conditions.
The achievement comes as the Bristol-based company also secures an agreement in principle for up to $850 million in funding, strengthening its push toward commercial operations. The flight represents a significant step towards certification of Vertical’s production aircraft, Valo.
