Vertical Aerospace plans to conduct the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demonstration flights to take place at the Farnborough International Airshow (20-24 July 2026).
As well as public piloted flight demonstrations of its full-scale prototype, Vertical will also display its full-scale commercial model of Valo.
Vertical intends to conduct public demonstration flights throughout the show subject to approved flight conditions. The planned demonstration flights follow the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s recent expansion of Vertical’s Permit to Fly, authorising the company to conduct its first public demonstration flights away from its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport.
Over the next few months the company is planning:
- Critical Design Review (CDR): expects to complete by the end of 2026, establishing the certifiable design baseline for its aircraft and enabling the build and test of certification-conforming aircraft.
- Industrialisation: Bringing the early production aircraft assembly facility online during Q3 2026 and expanding the Vertical Energy Centre in Q4 2026.
- Hybrid-electric programme: Selecting a long-term turbogenerator supplier during 2026 ahead of hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027.
Throughout Farnborough, Vertical executives will join industry leaders to discuss the future of advanced air mobility and the steps required to bring electric aviation into commercial service.
Monday, 20 July | 11:15–12:00
Hall 3 – AGN Theatre 1L | UK Leadership in Advanced Air Mobility
The UK has emerged as one of the world’s leading advanced air mobility ecosystems, combining pioneering aircraft development, progressive regulation, world-class operators and a strong aerospace heritage. But what will it take to turn that early lead into commercial success?
Confirmed Speakers:
- Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair, UK Civil Aviation Authority (Moderator)
- Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive, Vertical Aerospace
- David Stepanek, Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer, Bristow Group
- Giancarlo Buono, Group Director, Safety & Aerospace Regulation, UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Andy Sage, Director of Safety Transformations, NATS & Co-Chair, Future Flight Industry Group
- Ajita Hathlia, Deputy Director for Aviation Safety, Innovations and Skills, Department of Transport
Tuesday, 21 July | 15:00 – 16:00
Hall 4 – AGN Theater | Inside the eVTOL Market
Stuart Simpson will also participate in a Cantor Fitzgerald hosted panel at the show’s inaugural Finance Summit connecting financial institutions with global aerospace leaders at Farnborough. Simpson will join other CEOs on an “Inside the eVTOL Market” panel focusing on the electric vertical takeoff and landing sector, its current progress and vision for flight.
Confirmed panelists include:
- Stuart Simpson, Vertical Aerospace CEO
- Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder & CEO
- JoeBen Bevirt, JOBY’s Founder & CEO
- Adam Goldstein, ACHR’s Founder & CEO