Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) announced it completed a piloted thrustborne transition flight with its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft on April 2, 2026. The flight took place at the company's Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport under oversight of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Test pilot Paul Stone flew the aircraft through a sequence where it took off vertically before the front propellers tilted forward, enabling acceleration into wingborne flight as the rear propellers stowed. The flight concluded with a conventional runway landing.

The thrustborne transition represents the first half of a two-way transition sequence, where an aircraft takes off vertically, flies on wings, then decelerates to land vertically without requiring a runway. Vertical stated this was the first such achievement by a piloted, full-scale eVTOL aircraft of this class under UK CAA oversight.

The milestone coincided with Vertical's March 30 announcement of an agreement in principle for financing of up to $850 million. The company has conducted nearly two years of piloted flight testing, previously completing tethered hover flights, thrustborne operations, and wingborne flight phases.

"This marks a turning point not just for Vertical Aerospace, but for the entire advanced air mobility industry," said Chief Executive Officer Stuart Simpson in the press release.

The UK CAA is working with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency toward certification of Vertical's Valo aircraft. The company reports approximately 1,500 pre-orders for the aircraft from customers including American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL and Japan Airlines.

Vertical's flight test program continues toward completing two-way transition, which would include the ability to decelerate from wingborne flight back to vertical landing.