Vertical Aerospace has officially made history by completing the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) transition flight at Farnborough International Airshow – with the aircraft switching from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back again in one continuous display.
The flight, carried out in front of a global audience of aerospace leaders, regulators, operators and media, was conducted by Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, who flew Vertical’s full-scale prototype, completing a transition flight by moving from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing.
Completion of the display marks a first for Farnborough, and a major milestone for the advanced air mobility industry.
nStuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, saidFor 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.
Vertical recently announced a new strategic partnership with Near Earth Autonomy to integrate advanced autonomous flight capability into Valo, as well as a new commercial deal with Sigma Air Mobility, an advanced air mobility operator and member of the Luxaviation Group.
The company has stated that it plans to onduct flight demonstrations throughout the week at the Farnborough International Airshow, subject to approved flight conditions.
