Vertical Aerospace Provides First Half-Year 2025 Operating Update, Demonstrating Piloted Flight Test Progress and Supply Chain Maturity
- Signs new long-term partnership with Aciturri Aerostructures to produce the entire airframe, including the wing, empennage, pylons and fuselage for the VX4
- Piloted wingborne flight tests accelerated with multiple flight tests and pilots, including first airport to airport flights
- Partnership with Bristow to deliver full service 'Ready-to-Fly' eVTOL operations for VX4 customers
- Leadership team strengthened with deep aerospace and certification experience
- Maintains industry-leading capital efficiency1
- H1 2025 results call today at 08:30 am ET (13:30 BST)

H1 2025 saw Vertical Aerospace demonstrate piloted flight test progress and supply chain maturity
Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said: “We’ve entered the second half of the year with strong operational and commercial momentum. Our first airport-to-airport flights, a new agreement with Aciturri to build the full VX4 airframe, and our expanded partnership with Honeywell to certify critical flight systems all demonstrate a programme moving with pace and precision. We’ve also deepened our commercial readiness with Bristow, who will operate the VX4 through a full-service, ready-to-fly model for customers. With every step, we’re building confidence in our aircraft, our team, and our ability to deliver a scalable, certifiable product to the global market.�
Recent Highlights
Advancing Our Best-in-Class Aircraft
- Entered into new long-term strategic partnership with Aciturri Aerostructures to produce the entire airframe, including the wing, empennage, pylons and fuselage, of both the pre-production and, subject to certification, certified VX4 that will enter into service. This follows the expanded partnership with Honeywell earlier in the year to provide the flight control and aircraft management systems for the VX4.
Moving at Pace Towards Certification and Industrialisation
- In Q2, we received our Permit to Fly for both piloted wingborne flight tests and the airport-to-airport flights in and out of the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest military air show, another significant step in the expansion of our flight test programme.
- First-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in European open airspace; multiple wingborne flight tests undertaken by two of Vertical’s test pilots since as Phase 3 of the piloted test flight programme progresses at pace.
- Scheduled to complete piloted transition flight, the final stage of Vertical’s flight test programme, in the second half of 2025.
Strengthened leadership team
- Lord Andrew Parker, formerly Director General of MI5 and Lord Chamberlain, Head of Royal Household, appointed to the Board, strengthening the company’s leadership in defence, national security, and government affairs.
- Mark Higson appointed Chief Operating Officer and Steve Vellacott joined as VP of Airworthiness & Head of Design Organisation. Together they bring decades of operational, engineering, and certification expertise from across global aerospace, infrastructure, and eVTOL sectors. Eric Samson was named as VP Programme-Hybrid, building on the company’s recently announced hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft strategy.
Financial Outlook:
-
Maintained industry-leading capital efficiency1 and after July’s successful fundraise of gross proceeds of
($69 million £50.9 million ), as of the date of this report, Vertical has approximately£104 million ( ) of cash and cash equivalents on hand, taking the Company’s cash runway towards the middle of 2026.$137 million -
No change to expectations for FY 2025 net operating cash outflows of approximately
£90 million to£100 million ( to$110 million ).$125 million -
Expected net cash outflows from operating activities for the next 12 months of approximately
£106 million ( ), which will be used primarily to continue funding the assembly and testing of the VX4 prototypes.$142 million
Joining the H1 Webcast
Vertical will host a webcast at 08:30 am ET (13:30 BST) today to discuss the first quarter’s results. The call will be hosted by , Vertical’s CEO alongside Michael Cervenka, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, who will talk through progress in H1, supply chain maturity and capital efficiency.
To access the webcast, visit Vertical’s Investor Relations website: []
A replay of the webcast will be available on the company website following the event.
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. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market.
Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing 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 the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
1 Based on operating costs and investments in PPE, compared to publicly available information from competitors.
View source version on businesswire.com:
Media
Justin Bates, Head of Communications
+44 7878 357 463
[email protected]
Investor Relations
Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs
[email protected]
+44 7816 459 904
Source: Vertical Aerospace