Vertical Aerospace progresses towards full piloted transition flight

Vertical Aerospace announced significant progress in its piloted transition flight testing phase, achieving key milestones since receiving its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority on 13 November 2025.The full-scale prototype has completed ten flights since this Permit to Fly was issued, expanding the majority of the transition envelope, including acceleration and deceleration through 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 reflects the structured progression of the test programme alongside limited flight-test windows and weather constraints at this stage.

Recent flights are delivering valuable data as the team expands the flight envelope and refines the 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, marking meaningful steps forward in validating the aircraft’s behaviour through 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, commented: “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.”