r/Vertical_Aerospace

Ho-Young Lee, Vice President of Hyundai WIA (centre-left), with members of the Hyundai WIA and Vertical Aerospace teams in front of Valo.

May 21, 2026

• Hyundai WIA to supply advanced lightweight landing gear system for Valo aircraft
• Agreement strengthens Vertical’s supplier ecosystem as the Company advances toward certification and scaled production

Vertical Aerospace a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announced a new long-term partnership with Hyundai WIA, a subsidiary of Hyundai Corporation and a leading mobility and manufacturing company, to supply the landing gear system for Valo, Vertical’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Under the agreement, Hyundai WIA will develop and manufacture a bespoke landing gear system for Valo, with end-to-end design and production responsibility. Stirling Dynamics, a UK-based engineering company with more than 30 years’ experience supporting certified aircraft programmes, will support Hyundai WIA as a key design partner.

Hyundai WIA’s lightweight, technically mature landing gear solution, combined with decades of advanced manufacturing and mobility experience, makes the company a strong partner for Vertical’s next-generation aircraft.

The partnership further strengthens Vertical’s supplier ecosystem as the Company advances toward certification and commercialization of Valo.

Vertical has now secured key suppliers across major aircraft systems, including Honeywell (flight control and aircraft management systems), Aciturri (airframe structures), Evolito (electric propulsion units), Syensqo (composite materials), and Isoclima (transparencies). The Hyundai WIA agreement marks another important step in establishing a world-class aerospace supply chain for scaled production.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “As we advance toward certification and industrialization, securing world-class suppliers remains central to our strategy. Hyundai WIA brings deep expertise in advanced manufacturing and high-integrity systems, further strengthening the industrial foundation supporting Valo’s path to commercial service.”

Ho-Young Lee, Vice President of Hyundai WIA, said: “We are proud to partner with Vertical Aerospace on the Valo programme and support the development of next-generation electric aviation. We look forward to working closely with Vertical and Stirling Dynamics to deliver a robust, innovative landing gear solution that meets the highest safety standards and performance.”

The announcement follows Vertical’s successful completion of two-way piloted transition flight, a key technical milestone validating the aircraft’s technology and core operating mode.

Vertical is now progressing toward Critical Design Review (CDR), which establishes the certifiable design baseline and enables the build and test of certification-conforming aircraft. Completion of CDR will lock key design elements, supply chain configuration and certification partner selection ahead of full-scale certification testing and commercial production.

About Hyundai WIA

Founded in 1976, HYUNDAI WIA has been developing and producing cutting-edge products in automobile parts, mobility solutions, aerospace and defense industry solutions to become a global leader in the comprehensive machinery mobility industry.

Stirling Dynamics

Stirling Dynamics is an advanced engineering company that provides high-end engineering products and services and is renowned for its specialist landing gear design services to certified platforms and the Advanced Air Mobility sector. With over three decades of experience the company has accumulated a wealth of knowledge on multiple aircraft and marine platforms, delivered to civil and military programmes around the globe.

Taken from a recent filing, I thought it might be of use to those unfamiliar with the company.

Our vision is to transform how the world moves. We are a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and selling a zero-operating emission eVTOL aircraft for use in the advanced air mobility (“AAM”) market, using cutting edge technology from the aerospace, automotive and energy industries.

Founded in 2016, we draw on deep aerospace and automotive expertise. We designed, built and flew two sub-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft in 2018 and 2019. We are currently developing, and are progressing towards the certification of Valo, our flagship eVTOL. Our first full-scale prototype successfully concluded its remote thrustborne flight test campaign in August 2023.

Our second, more advanced, full-scale prototype commenced flight tests in July 2024, achieving the milestone of piloted thrustborne flight maneuvers in January 2025, wingborne flight in September 2025 and two-way transition in April 2026. In December 2025, we completed the assembly of our third full-scale prototype, identical to the second, and the aircraft will begin flight testing following commissioning. Both our second and third prototypes include much of our strategic partners’ technology that we plan to incorporate into our final certification aircraft. In addition, we also expect to have five flying and two static aircraft, for certification purposes only.

We are targeting Valo to be capable of transporting a pilot and up to six passengers, traveling distances of up to 100 miles, and achieving cruise speeds of 150 mph, while producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions. The aircraft is being designed around existing certifiable technology, as well as certain novel technology such as the batteries and propellers which we are designing and developing in-house. Collectively, our experienced team has previously certified and supported the development of over 30 aircraft and propulsion systems around the world. We are currently one of the only eVTOL designers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) actively pursuing certification from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (the “CAA”) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) with a winged vehicle. We aim to have our aircraft certified to safety targets the same as those to which large commercial airliners are subject, based on standards that are multitudes times safer than those applicable to small single-engine helicopters. EASA and the CAA have also agreed how they will collaborate on the certification of Valo, under the technical implementation procedures agreed as part of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. While both regulators have been working closely already, this sets the foundations for their certification experts to apply common standards and work together towards concurrent certification and validation of Valo by both authorities. In 2023, the CAA announced its intention to adopt EASA’s Means of Compliance to SC-VTOL, the standards against which European and UK manufacturers design eVTOLs. In 2025, the CAA announced its eVTOL Delivery Model which sets out a regulatory framework to facilitate commercial eVTOL flights in the UK by the end of 2028. By achieving certification of our eVTOL aircraft from the CAA and EASA, we expect to leverage the work done with our home regulator to have the certification validated by other regulators where we intend to operate, including the United States Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”), Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (“ANAC”) and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (“JCAB”).

In March 2023, the CAA issued us with an eVTOL Design Organisation Approval (“DOA”), the scope of which was expanded in July 2024, enabling our engineers to sign-off compliance of an expanding range of technical areas, including additional aspects of flight control, avionics and electrical systems. By enhancing our capacity to carry out certification activities, we expect to streamline the overall certification process. UK and European aerospace companies cannot hold a type certificate, necessary for entry into service, without being granted a DOA. The DOA authorizes us to conduct design activities and issue design approvals within the DOA’s scope of approval. In 2025, we maintained our DOA after our first 24-month audit.

In May 2025, we announced a complementary hybrid-electric aircraft. This aircraft is intended to extend the payload and range capability of the pure-eVTOL platform to carry up to 1,100 kilograms and travel 1,000+ miles, enabling new potential applications in defense, logistics and commercial sectors including air ambulance services, which require longer range and higher payload than current eVTOL platforms can deliver. This hybrid aircraft maintains the same airframe as the eVTOL.

We are developing a sophisticated eVTOL ecosystem that allows us to focus on providing a high quality experience. Our in-house expertise, together with our industry-leading partners, cover design, certification, assembly and manufacture, pilot experience, end-user experience and base platform performance. We aim to be one of the leading eVTOL aircraft OEMs, selling globally certified aircraft to a variety of customers, including, commercial airlines, aircraft leasing companies, business aviation, tourism groups, mobility platforms and existing helicopter operators as well as new operators in the AAM market, providing both OEM sales and aftermarket services to our customers. We also believe there is a potential market to provide OEM sales to a variety of industries beyond traditional airline and helicopter customers, such as tourism, where there is an opportunity to replace existing transportation options like minibuses, and the cargo and logistics industry, where there is potential to partner with global logistics firms and large retail customers. There is a further opportunity to generate revenue from other sectors such as emergency services, as eVTOL and hybrid-electric aircraft can be used for emergency patient and supplies transport, particularly in densely populated areas or military logistics transport, among other potential uses. We plan to explore the potential development of versions of Valo for such scenarios. Our strategy is to forge partnerships in key markets with partners that have existing demand and are local trusted brands with market specific knowledge. We believe that by partnering with such market players, we can extend their business models and build a market ecosystem that will allow us to expand our proposition over time. Our focus on system integration and establishment of an industrial supply chain is expected to enable rapid scaling of production of our aircraft.

Jeffrey Neal Johnson has been a contributing writer for MarketBeat since 2023.

May 20th 2026

"No investment in a frontier technology is without risk. The leadership team at Vertical Aerospace has been transparent about a three-month slip in its piloted transition timeline, which they note adds additional risk to their end-of-2028 certification target. This level of honesty, while highlighting potential delays, also builds investor trust.

The thesis for Vertical Aerospace is not built on a flawless, linear path to commercialization. It is built on a foundation of demonstrated technological achievement, best-in-class capital efficiency, and a valuation that seems disconnected from its tangible progress. As Vertical Aerospace moves toward its mid-2026 Critical Design Review, investors might consider whether the market has misjudged the flight plan, leaving a compelling opportunity for those focused on the fundamentals."

https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/vertical-aerospace-pre-flight-checks-point-to-a-breakout/

Vertical’s next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion system during testing on its Hybrid Propulsion Evaluation Rig (HYPER) at the Company’s Flight Test Centre

May 19, 2026

• Next-generation hybrid-electric system begins testing ahead of flight tests
• First all-electric Valo battery manufactured on upgraded production line at Vertical Energy Centre

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, today announced two key programme milestones: the start of integration testing for its next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion system, and the production of the first all-electric Valo battery from its upgraded assembly line.

These milestones represent continued progress across Vertical’s propulsion and energy systems programmes, both of which underpin the Company’s all-electric and future hybrid-electric aircraft roadmap.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

“Hybrid capability complements our all-electric Valo platform and unlocks a broader range of civil and defence applications. At the same time, advancing our battery technology and manufacturing capability is critical to certification and scaling production. Together, these milestones demonstrate the strength and breadth of our technology platform.”

Hybrid-electric system enters testing phase

Vertical’s next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion system has begun testing on its dedicated Hybrid Propulsion Evaluation Rig (HYPER) at the Company’s Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport, marking a significant milestone after more than two years of development at the Vertical Energy Centre.

The HYPER facility enables full system integration and validation of the hybrid powertrain, including the turbine, generator and associated electrical systems, alongside testing of control architecture, system response and fault scenarios ahead of ground and flight testing.

The Company is working with several partners to integrate a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)-compatible gas turbine with an electric generator, while leading development of system integration, control architecture and software.

This turbogenerator will be integrated into a prototype hybrid-electric Valo aircraft for flight testing and demonstrations, while also supporting the development and validation of technologies for future hybrid variants of the aircraft. These hybrid-electric variants are expected to significantly expand range, payload and operational flexibility. Vertical is targeting certification of its hybrid-electric variant with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Battery production milestone supports certification and scale-up

Vertical has also reached a key milestone in its proprietary battery programme, with the first battery produced on its upgraded assembly line, launched in March 2026, at the Vertical Energy Centre.

The 15,000 sq ft facility, already responsible for the battery systems used in piloted flight testing since 2024, has been enhanced with automated, aerospace-grade manufacturing processes designed to improve efficiency, consistency and performance, while supporting certification and future production.

The battery prototypes will go into rigorous environmental and operational testing. Battery packs produced on the assembly line will be used to support Vertical’s certification aircraft as it progresses through the final stages of certification with the UK CAA and EASA, as well as providing initial production capacity ahead of entry into service.

Key targeted capabilities of Vertical’s hybrid-electric variant:

• Range: Up to 1,000 miles, a 10-fold increase from its all-electric aircraft.
• Payload: Configurable to carry up to 1,100 kilograms in Valo’s class-leading airframe capacity.
• Stealth advantages: Low noise and heat signatures make the hybrid variant well-suited for sensitive missions.
• Crewed and uncrewed capabilities: Hybrid-electric technology capable of being deployed autonomously, remotely, or with a pilot. Uncrewed capabilities can be seamlessly integrated into the existing Flight Control System being developed by Honeywell.
• Mission resilience: Built off the Valo’s industry-leading redundancy and damage tolerance, boosting confidence for mission-critical operations.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel. Valo is a piloted, four-passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market.

Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.

Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of Valo, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.