Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, has successfully completed a historic two-way piloted transition flight. 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 achievement builds on Vertical’s thrustborne transition completed 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 that 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 of Vertical Aerospace, stated:
“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), working in close collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) toward Type Certification of Valo. 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.
Steve Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of American Airlines, commented:
“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.”
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, added:
“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 are backing companies like Vertical that are demonstrating innovation, engineering excellence, and export potential.”
Bob Buddecke, President of Electronic Solutions at Honeywell Aerospace, concluded:
“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 to enable this successful flight, and we expect countless more to come.”
