Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is an aerospace company developing Valo, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft intended for zero-emission urban and regional air travel. Valo is designed to carry four passengers with one pilot, producing zero operating emissions and materially less noise than conventional aircraft. The company works across electric propulsion, aerospace engineering, noise-reduction technology and aircraft safety certification.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bristol, England, the company is pursuing airliner-level certification of its aircraft from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by 2028. Its development programme is supported by an order book from named airline partners American Airlines, Japan Airlines, AirAsia and GOL, spanning the United States, Japan, Southeast Asia and Brazil.

The business was started by Stephen Fitzpatrick, a lifelong aviation enthusiast who previously built OVO Group into one of Britain's leading energy companies, with a small team of engineers and aviation experts. The company describes its team as aerospace veterans and follows an asset-light manufacturing strategy. Its stated aim is to make air travel personal, on demand and carbon-free.