Charlotte Bailey joined AIN’s editorial team in 2025 as a news reporter covering multiple topics including business aviation, new technology and the defense sector. She is also a frequent presenter in AIN’s video news reports. 
UK-based Charlotte has a strong interest in vintage military jets and in 2023 published a book about the de Havilland Vampire, as well as serving as a consultant on the topic for TV and movie projects. She is keen to expand her flying experience and enjoys hands-on assignments worldwide. In 2024, Charlotte was honored as Best New Journalist in the Aerospace Media Awards. Early in her career, Charlotte was involved in manufacturing customized hot air balloons.

News Reporter 

Charlotte Bailey

Vertical Aerospace has confirmed plans to start manufacturing its Valo eVTOL aircraft at its Cotswold Airport facility in the west of England. On Thursday, the start-up announced that a 60,000-sq-ft converted hangar will be used to assemble an initial 37 units each year, although in the longer term it aims to open a large factory with annual capacity for 1,000 aircraft at a yet-to-be-confirmed location in the UK.
Meanwhile, Vertical's engineering team is focused on the next stages of type certification work for the six-passenger <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-12-10/bristow-prepares-launch-uk-evtol-air-taxi-network">all-electric Valo model.</a> At the same time, it is also retrofitting one of its flying prototypes with an <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-05-19/vertical-starts-tests-hybrid-electric-powertrain">alternative hybrid-electric propulsion system</a> that it intends to bring to market for applications such as military missions.
“Today marks the moment we pivot from prototyping to production,” Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson said during an opening ceremony at Kemble on September 24. The company has spent around £1.5 million ($2 million) refurbishing its new building plus an additional World War Two-era hangar, more than doubling its space available at the site.&nbsp;
The first aircraft to be built in this facility will be Vertical’s pre-production, type-conforming <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-12-09/vertical-unveils-redesigned-valo-evtol-aircraft-london">Valo</a> model, which is a redesigned variant of its VX4 prototype. According to Simpson, this design remains on track to achieve UK type certification in 2029
Simpson confirmed that the Valo - the production-conforming, redesigned variant of its VX4 prototype – remains on track for UK Civil Aviation Authority type certification in 2029. Following a critical design review due late this year, construction of the initial unit will commence onsite in the fourth quarter, with the first Valo intended to fly in 2028.&nbsp;
Once certified, Vertical anticipates production output to be around 26 aircraft a year split across two working shifts, although a third shift could boost numbers to up to 37. Batteries will be built at a separate ‘gigafactory’ in another as-yet undisclosed location, but it is also making a limited number of units at its Bristol headquarters.
According to Vertical, it is one of only two companies globally to have completed a full two-way piloted transition flight with a full-scale eVTOL, with the other being California’s Joby Aviation. Simpson said his company has spent little more than around $500 million to reach the current stage in the program, which he claimed is a fraction of the more than 42 billion spent by some U.S. rivals.
<h2>Ongoing Test Campaign</h2>
Vertical currently has two full-scale, piloted VX4 prototypes, which between them have accumulated nearly 120 flights in total. While G-VTLB is actively involved in flight testing, the other full-scale crewed prototype (G-VTLA) is currently disassembled at the back of the hangar, where the team are installing a hybrid-electric system. This airframe made its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/vertical-aerospace-va-1x-evtol-makes-flying-display-debut-farnborough-airshow">flying display debut</a> at this summer’s Farnborough Airshow, from where it was disassembled and returned by road around a week ago.&nbsp;
Later this year, Vertical will announce a supplier for the hybrid version's thermal engine and chief commercial and technology officer Michael Cervenka said that the company has been studying numerous options. The introduction of hybrid-electric variant opens the market for three options: a full-electric, hybrid, and a militarized hybrid applicable for defense-related roles.&nbsp;
Although the latter is likely to start with logistics missions, Cervenka told AIN the platform is also applicable to transportation or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles. He confirmed that the hybrid Valo has sufficient power to run electrical equipment needed for omboard systems.
Cervenka explained that the hybrid-electric aircraft should achieve type certification about a year after its all-electric counterpart. He said Vertical’s methodical approach to flight testing—working closely with the UK regulator at all stages of the process to integrate the aircraft into controlled airspace—forms the basis of an assured path to certification. However, the inter-airport demonstration flights—such as the Bicester to Farnborough ‘hops’ announced a few years ago—are not a current priority for the company.&nbsp;
The type-conforming Valo will be around 15% smaller overall than Vertical’s existing white VX4 prototypes, with a slightly shorter fuselage: although the position of the propellers, pylons and wings will be almost identical. This, explained Vertical’s chief test pilot Simon Davies, relates to “the really critical learning about the aerodynamic interactions and structural loads” which are otherwise difficult to model.&nbsp;
According to Davies, it was important to have piloted flights “early” in the test campaign, with Vertical’s test pilots able to offer qualitative feedback on ride quality amongst other elements. Valo’s all-electric campaign will see seven conforming prototypes built: five airworthy aircraft and a further two for static testing.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Vertical Aerospace Expands UK Manufacturing Site For Valo eVTOL Aircraft

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location 

Vertical Aerospace has expanded its manufacturing footprint in the UK, where it aims to build up to 37 eVTOL aircraft each year in a refurbished hangar. 

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon 

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades 

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

In this article

Vertical Aerospace

More In Aircraft

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability

Boeing Freighter Saga Raises Doubts Over Radia’s WindRunner

U.S. start-up sees commercial and military use cases for its clean-sheet cargo lifter design

AircraftPost To Host ‘Behind the Deal’ Session during NBAA-BACE

Panel will dissect a Gulfstream G650 transaction from four different perspectives

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN