UK firm Vertical Aerospace has officially opened its new aircraft assembly site at Cotswold Airport in England, where it will build the first pre-production examples of its fully-electric Valo eVTOL aircraft. Able to take off and land vertically, then fly like a conventional aeroplane once airborne, the Valo offers a versatile alternative to helicopters. Its fully electric powertrain also makes it remarkably quiet and free of exhaust emissions, which is likely to become a key selling point in the years to come. It will cover around 100 miles on battery power, with a top speed of 150mph.
The ex Second World War hangar, once home to the Red Arrows aerobatic team, has undergone extensive work to turn it into a factory capable of producing the first examples of its Valo aircraft for validation. Vertical Aerospace has already proven that the technology itself works – it flew a prototype at this summer’s Farnborough Airshow, and another prototype took to the air to mark the assembly centre’s opening this week. The aircraft lifted off from a standstill, tilted its propellers to transition into forward flight, then slowed down to land on the spot again.
A static version of the production-spec Valo was also on display at the event, fitted with a four-seat cabin clearly aimed at VIP transport. However, the cabin can be configured to suit different uses, and the roles the aircraft could play are diverse. These range from VIP transport, filling the gap between major airports and city centres, to air ambulance duties, where it could dramatically cut response times in remote or cut-off areas such as islands.
Further down the line, Vertical Aerospace has confirmed that it will offer a gas turbine generator option, allowing the aircraft to travel much further than its 100-mile battery-only range. The turbine will recharge the batteries rather than power the aircraft directly. The firm believes this will make the Valo more attractive for highly demanding applications such as military use.
The Valo’s electric motors will come from Bicester-based Evolito, which was spun out of electric motor specialist YASA back in 2021. YASA develops axial-flux motors for high-performance EVs such as the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe.
Vertical Aerospace now employs around 500 people, a number set to grow as it moves towards full-scale production. The company has scope to build up to 1,000 aircraft a year at a larger facility, although its location is yet to be decided. The opening was timed to coincide with the UK’s National Manufacturing Day, which celebrates British manufacturing and engineering. That’s fitting for a company like Vertical Aerospace, as the UK plays an increasingly important role in the future of e-mobility.
The Valo is set to fly from 2028, and demand is already there. Vertical Aerospace says it has received roughly $6 billion worth of conditional pre-orders from companies including American Airlines and Iberojet.
