LONDON & NEW YORK - Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL) completed the maiden piloted flight of its latest full-scale prototype aircraft on June 5, 2026, at its Flight Test Centre in the UK, according to a press release statement.
Test pilot Paul Stone conducted the flight at 8:49 BST after the UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a new Permit to Fly following ground testing and aircraft validation activities. The flight marks the start of an expanded flight test campaign for the electric aviation company.The milestone comes as Vertical’s stock trades at $2.17, with a market cap of $276 million, down 65% over the past year.
The new prototype is the final aircraft to join Vertical’s flight test fleet before the company completes Critical Design Review, a milestone that establishes the design baseline for certification. Following CDR, Vertical will begin preparations for assembly of its first pre-production aircraft.
The aircraft will progress through all phases of piloted flight testing, including thrustborne, wingborne and transition flight. The company’s existing prototype continues transition flight testing and has completed multiple piloted transition flights.
The new prototype doubles the company’s flight testing capacity. After completing all flight test phases in its all-electric configuration, Vertical intends to retrofit this prototype for hybrid-electric flight testing. The hybrid-electric variant is expected to support applications requiring greater range and payload capability across defense, logistics and commercial sectors.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said, "Getting our latest prototype into flight testing is an important milestone because it allows us to learn faster in real world conditions and keep building momentum towards certification."The progress comes at a critical juncture for the company, which burned through $131 million in free cash flow over the last twelve months. InvestingPro data shows the company currently trades below its Fair Value, placing it among undervalued stocks, though the platform’s Financial Health Score rates the company as "WEAK." Investors can access 17 additional InvestingPro Tips for deeper analysis.
The prototype shares the same configuration as Vertical’s current full-scale aircraft, which has completed all flight test phases. Valo is a piloted, four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft with zero operating emissions.
Vertical has approximately 1,500 pre-orders of Valo from customers including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines across four continents. A comprehensive Pro Research Report is available for EVTL on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Vertical Aerospace reported its financial results for Q1 2026, highlighting an $850 million financing package aimed at enhancing liquidity and extending its cash runway. Despite this strategic financial boost, the company’s stock experienced a decline in the latest trading session. Vertical Aerospace also announced the commencement of integration testing for its hybrid-electric propulsion system and the production of its first all-electric Valo battery from an upgraded assembly line. The testing is taking place at its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport, utilizing a Hybrid Propulsion Evaluation Rig. Additionally, the company has partnered with Hyundai WIA, a subsidiary of Hyundai Corporation, to supply the landing gear system for its Valo aircraft. Hyundai WIA will have full design and production responsibility, with Stirling Dynamics providing design support. These developments underscore Vertical Aerospace’s continued efforts in advancing its technology and strategic partnerships.
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