UK tech company Vertical Aerospace has debuted its Valo electric flying aircraft in New York City, which could be rolled out in US cities as early as 2029.
Valo is Vertical's certification-ready aircraft and can fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph with zero operating emissions. It is engineered to meet airliner-level safety standards.
The aircraft's premium cabin has four seats, panoramic windows, generous personal space and luggage capacity.
Vertical Aerospace is collaborating with vertical flight company Bristow and Skyports Infrastructure on Valo's planned routes in the US, including airport transfers between the latter's Downtown Skyport in Manhattan and major regional airports.
Additional proposed uses for Valo include game-day travel from Downtown Skyport to MetLife Stadium, aerial sightseeing tours, and connections between Downtown Skyport and East Hampton Airport for weekend breaks.
Also, Valo aircrafts could provide cross-town urban transfers between Downtown Skyport and other heliports, as well as emergency services to hospitals.
“The US Valo tour builds on the momentum from our London unveiling and a year of strong execution across testing, partnerships and certification," said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace.
"New York is a natural next step to explore how electric aviation could support urban and regional travel in the US, working with partners like Bristow and Skyports to keep safety, certification and real-world operations at the core."
As above, Vertical has already worked with Bristow and Skyports on planned flying taxi routes from Canary Wharf to major UK transport hubs.
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports Infrastructure, said: "Evaluating potential use cases around Downtown Skyport helps demonstrate how our infrastructure could support a wide range of journeys – from airports and events to leisure and urban connections – as electric aviation develops."
Valo’s arrival in New York is the first opportunity for US investors, customers, partners and the public to experience the aircraft, which was put on view on Friday (23 January).
Vertical's operations in US cities depends on regulatory approval, which is currently expected in 2028.
Images courtesy of Vertical Aerospace
