Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, has announced significant progress in its piloted transition flight testing phase. The company has achieved key milestones since receiving its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on 13 November 2025.
The full-scale prototype has completed ten flights since the Permit to Fly was issued, expanding the majority of the transition envelope. This includes acceleration and deceleration across a wide range of speeds and tilt positions.
With the final 10% of tilt transition remaining after all test phases to date, full piloted transition is expected in early 2026. This timeline reflects the structured progression of the test programme alongside limited flight-test windows and current weather constraints.
Recent flights are delivering valuable data as the team expands the flight envelope and refines flight-control and EPU software. Several first-time achievements have been completed, including in-flight deployment and stow of the rear propellers, spin-up during wingborne flight, and prop-hold functionality. These mark meaningful steps forward in validating the aircraft’s behaviour throughout the transition regime.
Vertical is conducting piloted transition testing under full CAA oversight and has recently been granted additional privileges by the regulator to approve Flight Conditions and issue its own Permits to Fly under defined circumstances.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “Our team continues to make excellent progress as we close in on full piloted transition flight. Achieving this level of performance under CAA oversight is a major validation of our engineering approach and a critical milestone as we move toward certification. These results give us real confidence in the aircraft’s capabilities and in the path ahead as we prepare for the next phase of testing in the new year.”
