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Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, today made history by completing the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight at Farnborough International Airshow, switching from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back again.
At 1:46PM local time, in front of a global audience of aerospace leaders, regulators, operators and media, Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, flew Vertical's full-scale prototype, completing a transition flight by moving from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing. The flight marks another historic first for Farnborough and a major milestone for the advanced air mobility industry, demonstrating how electric aviation is moving from concept to commercial reality.
From Samuel Cody's pioneering powered flight in Britain in 1908 to the Airbus A380's public debut in 2006, Farnborough has been the backdrop to many of aviation's defining moments. Today's demonstration adds electric aviation to that legacy.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace:
"For more than a century, Farnborough has been the stage where aviation's next chapter has been written. Today, we're proud that Vertical has added another first to that remarkable history. Successfully demonstrating a public transition flight here is more than a technical milestone - it is proof that electric aviation is moving from promise to commercial reality."
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group, the UK trade association advancing aerospace, defence and security and space, adds:
“Vertical’s successful flight is another important milestone for UK aerospace innovation and a strong signal of the momentum building behind the UK’s advanced air mobility sector. It shows how British companies are helping shape the next generation of aerospace technologies and turning innovation into real-world capability right here at Farnborough Airshow."
Gary Elliott, CEO of Aerospace Technology Institute adds:
“Today's flight by Vertical is a significant moment in the delivery of eVTOL capability and a fantastic example of the pioneering aerospace innovation happening in the UK. We have been a proud supporter of Vertical’s technology development for some time through the ATI Programme and this flight is proof of the transformative power of government and industry jointly supporting innovation across the aerospace supply chain.”
Gareth Rogers, CEO, Farnborough International Airshow:
“Farnborough International Airshow has always been a place where the future of aerospace is not only imagined, but seen for the first time. To witness Vertical's eVTOL aircraft take to the skies here marks an extraordinary moment for our industry, for the history of the show and British aviation. This milestone now joins Farnborough’s proud legacy of pioneering ‘firsts’, from landmark aircraft debuts to breakthrough technologies that have shaped the direction of flight. Seeing Vertical Aerospace demonstrate this new era of electric aviation at Farnborough is a powerful reminder of the role that British engineering and the airshow continues to play as a global stage for innovation, ambition and progress.”
Vertical's successful demonstration caps a year of significant commercial and technology milestones and highlights the growing momentum behind the UK's advanced air mobility sector. Vertical recently announced a strategic partnership with Near Earth Autonomy to integrate advanced autonomous flight capability into Valo, supporting future defence and commercial applications and today announced Sigma Air Mobility, an advanced air mobility operator and member of the Luxaviation Group, as a new customer.
Vertical plans to conduct flight demonstrations throughout the week at the Farnborough International Airshow, subject to approved flight conditions. Visitors can stay up to date with the latest demonstration flight times by joining the official WhatsApp channel.
Vertical also has its full-scale commercial model of Valo on display at the show, in Hall 4.
