Bigger Cabin Can Actually Haul All the Average Airline Pax’ Crap

The VX4 program has borne new fruit in the Valo, a 6-passenger eVTOL from Vertical Aerospace.

The Valo is an offshoot of the VX4, which has long been the face of Vertical’s eVTOL efforts. The eVTOL industry continues to pass through the same fads as the luxury car market, and they have moved on from awkward, obscure combinations of letters and numbers to vague, cool-sounding names. They’ve already got the “electric” part down, so maybe from here on out the luxe car scene can start following eVTOL trends… in any case, the Bristol firm has been one of the better (if not the best) manufacturers in the UK, with plenty of test flights of a 1:1 scale demo aircraft. If memory serves, they’ve done some pretty solid flights in their test regime, taking off in real-world conditions and hovering around the tarmac a bit. Cynics may not be impressed, but there are plenty of eVTOL companies working on scaled down versions of future aircraft, so Vertical is doing quite well for themselves. Vertical cites a top speed of 150 mph and a 100-mile range, with seating for 6 in zero-emissions comfort. 

The Valo has gotten some improvements here and there, but the underlying specs remain quite close to the VX4s. One would be forgiven for thinking it’s a “branding” thing more than an “engineering” one, until they spy the baggage capacity. The cabin has been upsized for an extra hint of luxury and comfort in the standard trim. But air taxi operators will be happy to know that opulent leg room can be replaced with two more seats for paying passengers. 

Part of the announcement shows a Valo next to a whole lineup of luggage, hinting that a full load could consist of 6 pax, 6 carryons, and 6 checked bags down below. That’s a nice little clue towards their eventual purpose as feeders for airline operations, most likely. Other eVTOL designers don’t seem to talk much about that mission profile. They seem quite romantic about the metropolitan air taxi lifestyle, airborne rideshares bringing the well-to-do from one high-caliber business meeting to the next. The Valo has an eye on that steady airline revenue, to the point the whole design is meant to ensure paying customers can show up with “the usual” airport baggage outlay without leaving anything behind. 

FMI: www.vertical-aerospace.com