Vertical Aerospace Delivers a Strong Financial Plan and Key Achievements in 2025 🇬🇧

London, August 5, 2025 – Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), the pioneering electric aviation company based in Bristol, England, has provided an exciting update on its operations for the first half of 2025, marking significant advancements in the development of its flagship VX4 eVTOL aircraft. With strong operational and commercial momentum, the company has made critical strides in its flight testing, supply chain maturity, and strategic partnerships, as it moves closer to certification and industrialization.

“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. – Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace

Financial Update and Capital Efficiency

Following a recent $69 million (£50.9 million) fundraise in July, Vertical now holds approximately £104 million ($137 million) in cash and equivalents. The company reaffirmed its cash runway through mid-2026, while projecting FY 2025 operating cash outflows in the £90M–£100M ($110M–$125M) range.

This financial discipline continues to set Vertical apart in the eVTOL sector, with capital efficiency metrics outperforming key competitors.

Piloted Flight Test Progress: Moving Towards Certification

One of the key highlights of Vertical’s H1 2025 update is the continued acceleration of its piloted wingborne flight tests, a major milestone in the certification journey of the VX4. In the second quarter of the year, Vertical received its Permit to Fly for both piloted flight tests and its first-ever airport-to-airport flights. These tests, which took place at the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest military airshow, represent a pivotal step in the company’s ongoing flight test program.

To date, Vertical has completed multiple wingborne flight tests with two test pilots, marking significant progress in Phase 3 of the piloted test flight program. These tests are crucial for refining the VX4’s flight performance and ensuring its readiness for commercial operations.

In addition to these successful tests, Vertical is on track to complete the piloted transition flight — the final stage of its test program — in the second half of 2025. This will further validate the aircraft’s transition capabilities and position the company for certification in the coming years.

Strategic Partnership with Aciturri Aerostructures

Aciturri Aerostructures

• Headquartered in Miranda de Ebro, (Burgos) Spain
• Roughly 50 years of experience in commercial aviation
• Services
  • Product Engineering
    • Conceptual & Preliminary Design
    • Detailed Design Structural
    • Analysis Safety
    • Qualifications Structures
    • Testing Certification
    • Industrialization
    • Composite Development (HLU, ATL, AFP)
• Manufacturing Engineering
  • Tooling Design
  • Manufacturing Processes Optimization
  • Industrialization
  • Composite Development (HLU, ATL, AFP)

As part of its commitment to scaling up production, Vertical has entered into a new long-term strategic partnership with Aciturri Aerostructures. Aciturri, a leading aerostructures manufacturer, will be responsible for producing the full VX4 airframe, including the wing, empennage, pylons, and fuselage. This collaboration is pivotal in ensuring that Vertical maintains robust supply chain capabilities as it works towards delivering a fully certified, production-ready VX4.

This partnership follows Vertical’s earlier collaboration with Honeywell, which is providing critical flight control and aircraft management systems for the VX4. These relationships underscore the company’s strategy to leverage leading aerospace suppliers to build a best-in-class eVTOL aircraft that meets the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance.

“Aciturri and Vertical share a strong commitment to advancing the future of air mobility by redefining urban transport with sustainable electric flight. With Vertical’s position as Europe’s leading eVTOL company, we look forward to partnering together through development, certification, and production to deliver a globally exportable and commercially viable eVTOL aircraft.” – Manuel Gonzalez Relaño, CEO at Aciturri Aerostructures

“As we accelerate toward commercialization, the VX4 demands an airframe built specifically for the unique challenges of eVTOL and the highest levels of safety certification. As a leading, global supplier, Aciturri brings the world-class capability, agility, and technical excellence we need to turn great designs into great aircraft. Their proven track record makes them the ideal partner as we advance our mission to deliver the safest, most versatile aircraft in the skies.” – Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace

Expanded Partnership with Bristow

Bristow Group

• Based in Houston, Texas
• NYSE: VTOL
• $1.4 B revenue in 2024
• over 450 helicopters and aircraft in its fleet
• Services:
  • Offshore Energy Services
  • Search and Rescue
  • Government Services
  • Aircraft Leasing
  • Advanced Air Mobility
  • Fleet Support
  • Maintenance & Modifications
  • Unmanned Aerial Solutions
  • Utility

Vertical has also strengthened its commercial readiness by deepening its relationship with Bristow, a leader in aviation services. The two companies have formed a strategic partnership to deliver full-service, ready-to-fly eVTOL operations for VX4 customers. Bristow will provide the necessary infrastructure, expertise, and operational support to ensure that the VX4 can seamlessly integrate into the growing urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.

This move is an important step towards creating a scalable business model for urban air mobility, with Bristow bringing decades of experience in aviation operations, maintenance, and customer service.

“The VX4’s successful demonstration of wingborne flight marks a significant step towards commercial readiness. As the global leader in innovative and sustainable vertical lift, we look forward to continuing to partner with Vertical to unleash the disruptive advantages of this aircraft.” – David Stepanek, EVP & CTO, Bristow Group

“As we look into the future, there are new generations of propulsion technology for aircraft, either all electric, hybrid, eventually maybe even hydrogen that will be used to revolutionize air mobility . Bristow is prepared to do that leveraging our global footprint and 70 plus years of aviation experience, and start serving customers in an entirely new way.” – Chris Bradshaw, Bristow CEO and President

Strengthened Leadership Team

Stuart Simpson – CEO of Vertical Aerospace

• Former CFO of Avast and Royal Mail (UK)
• Finance Director Global Compact Car Division at General Motors
• Director of Planning and Strategy @ GM Europe
• Group Finance Director Sales and Marketing, Design and Engineering @ GM
• Financial Controller After-sales, Parts and Accessories @ Vauxhall Motors (GM)
• Senior Finance Manger @ Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson has many years of experience working in the automotive industry, including the high volume mass production auto manufacturer General Motors (including Vauxhall and Saab subsidiaries), as well as British luxury manufacturer Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Vertical Aerospace has also bolstered its leadership team, bringing in several industry veterans with extensive aerospace and certification experience. Among the new appointments, Lord Andrew Parker — former Director General of MI5 and Head of the Royal Household — has joined the Board, providing valuable expertise in defense, national security, and government affairs.

Additionally, Mark Higson has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, while Steve Vellacott joins as VP of Airworthiness & Head of Design Organisation. These new additions bring decades of operational, engineering, and certification expertise from top-tier aerospace companies, including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and Leonardo. Eric Samson has also been named as VP Programme-Hybrid, building on the company’s newly announced hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft strategy.

These leadership changes further strengthen Vertical’s ability to navigate the complexities of aircraft certification and scale production for the VX4 and future hybrid-electric variants.

VX4: Positioned for Scalable, Safe, and Clean Urban Air Mobility

The VX4 is a piloted four-passenger eVTOL aircraft with zero operating emissions and quiet flight characteristics, aimed at revolutionizing regional and urban transport. The company is also developing a hybrid-electric version to extend mission flexibility.

Vertical’s global order book stands at ~1,500 pre-orders from partners including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow, covering four continents. Some deliveries are expected to be fulfilled through third-party operators.

What’s Next

With full airframe production now secured, successful piloted flights underway, and a rapidly maturing operational model, Vertical Aerospace appears on a steady glide path toward VX4 certification and entry into service.

Investors and industry stakeholders were able too join the H1 2025 results webcast today at 08:30 ET (13:30 BST) via Vertical’s Investor Relations website. A replay will be available online following the event.

More Info:

Vertical Aerospace Provides First Half-Year 2025 Operating Update, Demonstrating Piloted Flight Test Progress and Supply Chain Maturity: click here

eVTOL buzz: Why the Vertical Aerospace partnership with Bristow matters: increases your chance to fly in an eVTOL sooner than you think: click here