Vertical Aerospace Valo eVTOL Air Taxi. © Vertical Aerospace
British company Vertical Aerospace has revealed its Valo eVTOL air taxi and is targeting certification by 2028.
Vertical Aerospace Valo follows the VX4 prototype, which completed a piloted flight in the UK earlier this summer.
Valo is designed for trips of up to 160 kilometres at speeds of 240 km/h. Vertical expects its first services to focus on routes linking city centres with nearby airports.
At launch, the aircraft will carry four passengers and a pilot. Vertical plans to increase seating to six passengers as operating costs improve. Large windows, a spacious cabin, and a divider between cockpit and cabin give Valo a more polished, passenger-focused design than earlier test aircraft.
One standout feature is cargo space. Valo accommodates six cabin bags and six checked bags, with a total payload of approximately 550 kg. This tackles a common complaint about early eVTOL designs: limited luggage capacity.
Vertical reports around 1,500 preorders for Valo, including commitments from American Airlines and Japan Airlines.
The company aims to build 175 aircraft by 2030, increasing production to about 225 aircraft per year by the end of that decade.
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