Vertical Aerospace Completes Final Full-Scale Prototype, Doubling Flight Test Capacity Ahead of 2026 Piloted Trials
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and advanced technology company at the forefront of electric aviation, has reached a major milestone in its development roadmap with the completion of its third and final full-scale prototype aircraft. The newly completed aircraft is expected to enter piloted flight testing following commissioning in January 2026, marking a critical step toward accelerating test activity, advancing certification readiness, and maintaining momentum toward commercial operations.
The final prototype represents the culmination of Vertical’s current prototype flight test programme and is designed to significantly enhance the company’s testing capabilities. Once operational, the aircraft will effectively double Vertical’s available flight test capacity, enabling parallel testing streams and supporting a broader range of flight scenarios. In addition to its core role in technical validation, the aircraft is also expected to play a central role in public demonstrations throughout 2026, helping showcase Vertical’s progress to regulators, customers, partners, and investors.
Identical Design to Existing Transition-Test Aircraft
The newly completed aircraft is an exact replica of Vertical’s current full-scale prototype, which is actively conducting transition flight testing at the company’s UK Flight Test Centre. Transition flight—where the aircraft moves between vertical lift and wingborne forward flight—represents one of the most complex and critical phases of eVTOL development. Successful execution of this phase is essential to validating aerodynamic performance, flight control laws, propulsion integration, and overall system reliability.
Vertical confirmed that its existing prototype conducted its most recent flight on 19 December, with further test flights scheduled in the days ahead. Data and operational insights from these ongoing tests are expected to directly inform the commissioning and early flight activity of the newly completed prototype, allowing Vertical to streamline test procedures and rapidly expand the scope of its programme.
By maintaining identical configurations across its prototype fleet, Vertical aims to ensure consistency in data collection and reduce variability in test outcomes. This approach allows the company to focus on performance optimization and regulatory validation rather than managing multiple divergent aircraft configurations.
Doubling Flight Test Capacity at a Critical Stage
As the final prototype in Vertical’s flight test programme, the newly completed aircraft plays a pivotal role in scaling operations at a time when flight testing intensity is set to increase. Doubling flight test capacity provides the flexibility to run concurrent test campaigns, shorten development timelines, and mitigate potential delays caused by weather, maintenance, or aircraft availability.
This expanded capacity also supports a more comprehensive testing regime, including envelope expansion, system redundancy validation, handling qualities assessment, and pilot workload evaluation. In parallel, the aircraft will support public demonstrations in 2026, a key component of building confidence among regulators, airline partners, and infrastructure stakeholders.
For an emerging aviation segment such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), visible progress in flight testing is a critical differentiator. Demonstrated performance in real-world conditions plays a vital role in advancing certification discussions and reinforcing the commercial viability of next-generation aircraft.
Integration of Advanced Partner Technologies
The final prototype integrates advanced systems and technologies supplied by several of Vertical’s leading aerospace and energy partners, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern aircraft development. Key contributors include Honeywell, Molicel, and Syensqo, each providing specialized expertise critical to the aircraft’s performance, safety, and efficiency.
Honeywell’s involvement underscores the importance of proven aerospace systems and avionics in ensuring compliance with rigorous certification standards. Molicel contributes high-performance battery technology, a core component of Vertical’s all-electric propulsion architecture, while Syensqo supports advanced materials and systems designed to optimize weight, durability, and thermal performance.
By leveraging established industry partners alongside its in-house engineering capabilities, Vertical aims to balance innovation with reliability—a crucial consideration as regulators scrutinize every aspect of eVTOL aircraft design.
All-Electric Testing Followed by Hybrid-Electric Retrofit
Following its initial commissioning and early flight testing in an all-electric configuration, the aircraft will be retrofitted for hybrid-electric testing during 2026. This phased approach allows Vertical to validate baseline electric performance before expanding into hybrid-electric operations, which offer extended range and operational flexibility.
Hybrid-electric capability is increasingly viewed as a strategic advantage for eVTOL and advanced air mobility operators, particularly for missions that exceed the practical limits of purely battery-electric systems. By testing both configurations on the same airframe, Vertical can directly compare performance metrics, operational trade-offs, and system integration challenges.
This dual-path testing strategy also aligns with broader industry trends, as manufacturers explore hybrid solutions to bridge the gap between near-term electric operations and longer-range future use cases.
Leadership Perspective on Commercial Momentum
Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Aerospace, highlighted the significance of the milestone as the company looks toward the next phase of its development journey.
“As we look ahead to 2026, the addition of our final prototype marks an important step in closing out our prototype flight test programme and maintaining momentum towards commercialization,” Simpson said. “Our test pilots are eager to get this aircraft into the air.”
Simpson’s comments reflect Vertical’s focus on execution and forward progress as the company transitions from prototype development to certification and eventual entry into service. With multiple aircraft now supporting the test programme, Vertical is better positioned to maintain a consistent testing cadence and respond quickly to regulatory feedback.
Linking Prototype Progress to Certification Strategy
The completion of the final prototype comes shortly after Vertical’s unveiling of Valo, its next-generation certification aircraft. Valo is scheduled to enter commercial service following certification in 2028 and represents the aircraft that Vertical ultimately intends to deploy with customers.
While the prototype aircraft are focused on validating core technologies and flight characteristics, Valo is being designed from the outset to meet certification requirements set by aviation authorities. Lessons learned from the prototype programme are expected to directly inform Valo’s design, systems architecture, and operational procedures.
As part of its certification strategy, Vertical plans to build seven Valo certification aircraft in the United Kingdom. These aircraft will support final testing and regulatory approval processes with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), two of the most influential aviation regulators globally.
Supporting UK Aerospace and Regulatory Collaboration
Vertical’s decision to base its certification programme in the UK underscores its commitment to supporting the domestic aerospace ecosystem and working closely with national and European regulators. The construction and testing of seven certification aircraft are expected to sustain high-skilled engineering, manufacturing, and flight test roles, reinforcing the UK’s position as a hub for advanced aviation innovation.
Collaboration with the CAA and EASA is central to Vertical’s strategy, as regulatory alignment is critical for enabling international operations and market access. By engaging early and extensively with regulators, Vertical aims to de-risk the certification process and establish a clear pathway to commercial entry.
Positioning Within the Advanced Air Mobility Landscape
The completion of Vertical’s final prototype comes at a time of increasing scrutiny and competition within the advanced air mobility sector. As investors, regulators, and customers focus on execution rather than concept validation, tangible milestones such as piloted flight testing and prototype fleet expansion are becoming key indicators of programme maturity.
Vertical’s ability to double its flight test capacity, integrate advanced partner technologies, and progress toward hybrid-electric testing positions the company as a serious contender in the race toward certified eVTOL operations. While challenges remain—particularly around certification timelines, infrastructure readiness, and cost economics—the company’s methodical approach reflects an understanding of the complexities inherent in bringing a new aircraft category to market.
With its final full-scale prototype complete and commissioning set for January 2026, Vertical Aerospace enters the next phase of its development journey with increased testing capacity and renewed momentum. The expanded flight test programme is expected to generate critical data, support public engagement, and lay the groundwork for Valo’s certification campaign.
As Vertical moves closer to its targeted 2028 entry into service, the successful execution of its prototype and certification programmes will be central to unlocking the commercial potential of electric and hybrid-electric aviation. The completion of this final prototype is not just a technical milestone, but a strategic signal of the company’s readiness to advance from experimentation to execution in the rapidly evolving aerospace landscape.
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