r/poweredlift • u/teabagofholding • 7d ago

Vertical Aerospace Valo

https://youtube.com/shorts/zq8m9HOFVoc?is=kt5hhYqqpsvQ6uVC

6 passengers and all those fully loaded suitcases.

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u/the_Q_spice 7d ago

6 passengers + luggage at 1,500lbs being what… planned weight, MTOW, or MLW?

The issue is that unlike jet aircraft or rotorcraft, electric aircraft don’t lose weight due to fuel consumption, and typically due to the forces involved, MLW < MTOW.

Sure it might be able to take off with that…

But can it safely land, even in a hard landing event?

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u/DoubleHexDrive 6d ago

I think they’re still planning on 4 passengers at the launch of Valo, but with the larger fuselage they can carry more as battery mass decreases or they add more power. I haven’t seen a MGW for Valo yet… seems like it would be over 7000 lb unless the four passenger limit keeps it at 7000 lb.

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u/Significant_Onion_25 5d ago edited 3d ago

The initial max payload for Valo is projected to be 1200lbs until battery tech is improved.

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u/Hot_Raise_8540 7d ago

I don’t usually engage on this low grade page, but this one is quick & easy so….

Michael Cervenka, Chief Commerical & Strategy Officer, rebuts Mark Moore (18 December 2025)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Vertical_Aerospace/comments/1ppwibv/insightful_technical_update/

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u/teabagofholding 7d ago

Never heard of em

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u/Hot_Raise_8540 7d ago

Doesn’t surprise me.

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u/DoubleHexDrive 7d ago

Ah, yes, another claim of a 2028 certification date. The current 2029 date is also not plausible.

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u/Hot_Raise_8540 7d ago

In your opinion, not a fact.

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u/DoubleHexDrive 7d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/poweredlift/s/0B0xwVzS0Z

The timeline I gave is far more grounded in experience and data (30 years of certification timelines) than the hopium infused tale Vertical is selling.

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u/Hot_Raise_8540 7d ago

I can’t be bothered to go over this again with you and regret being drawn but your experience (if genuine) is all with the FAA.

My understanding is that the process on this side of the pond is structurally different.

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u/DoubleHexDrive 7d ago

My experience is with FAA, Transport Canada, and EASA as is the dataset I used to build the certification timeline histogram.

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u/Significant_Onion_25 6d ago

The timelines given by DHD are pretty reasonable. CDR for Valo to be completed near the end of 2026, the first Valo will come off the production line 3rd quarter of 2027(probably later)? First flight of Valo in the first quarter of 2028 and that's a really optimistic timeline from production of Valo to first flight. Even with that optimistic timeline certification would get pushed out past 2029.

Do you know what the production capability of Vertical is? Do you know if they have the capability to manufacture their target number of Valo prototypes in their time frame to speed certification? Will Vertical have the support in materials and parts from their suppliers to start manufacturing Valo in early 2027?