UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of April 2026
Commission File Number: 001-41169
Vertical Aerospace Ltd.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street
Bristol BS2 0UW
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F ¨
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K
Achievement of Two-Way Piloted Transition Flight
On April 16, 2026, Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (the “Company”) announced its successful completion of a two-way piloted transition flight under the direct oversight of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), working in close collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The successful two-way transition flight marks the completion of Phase 4 of the Company’s prototype flight tests, the final phase which tests the aircraft’s ability to shift seamlessly between vertical lift (“helicopter mode”) and wingborne flight (“airplane mode”) and from airplane mode back again to helicopter mode, all in a single continous flight without the need for a runway.
The Company is targeting certification of its planned all-electric certification and production aircraft, Valo, by 2028. With the completion of Phase 4 testing, the Company now plans to move to the next stage of certification by preparing for commerial operations.
On April 16, 2026, the Company issued a press release in relation to the completion of the two-way piloted transition flight, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K (the “Form 6-K”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this Form 6-K that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the certification and the commercialization of our aircraft and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, and statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 24, 2026, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The information included in this Report on Form 6-K (excluding Exhibit 99.1) is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File No. 333-270756, File No. 333-284763, File No. 333-287207 and File No. 333-292448) (including any prospectuses forming a part of such registration statements) and to be a part thereof from the date on which this Report on Form 6-K is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. dated April 16, 2026. | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Vertical Aerospace Ltd. | ||
| Date: April 16, 2026 | By: | /s/ Stuart Simpson |
| Stuart Simpson | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||