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Vertical Aerospace Targets 2030 Launch for Electric Cargo Aircraft

Vertical Aerospace plans to begin operational cargo flights with its Velo electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in 2030. The company targets certification in late 2028 or 2029. The aircraft completed a piloted transition flight in April and demonstrated the maneuver publicly at the Farnborough Airshow before roughly 140,000 attendees. The battery-electric variant flies at 150 miles per hour with ranges of 50 to 60 miles. A hybrid variant incorporating a gas turbine range extender extends range to more than 1,000 miles for cargo and defense operations. Vertical Aerospace is pursuing certification from the U.S. Civil Aviation Authority, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the U.K. regulator. The company will construct seven test aircraft—two non-flying airframes and five for flight testing through 2027 and 2028. Certification programs typically cost $1 billion to $2 billion, so the company designed a single flexible platform serving passenger, cargo, and defense markets.