Vertical Aerospace’s landmark year: advancing Flightpath 2030 with strong momentum

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today, released its 2024 Annual Report, including its FY24 full year financial results, as it continues to make strong progress on its Flightpath 2030 strategy. Vertical’s Annual Report is accessible on the Company’s investor relations website and on the SEC’s website.

Vertical will host a webcast to discuss the 2024 Annual Report. The call will be hosted by Stuart Simpson, Vertical’s CEO and he will be joined by Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot.

Commenting ahead of the earnings call, Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

“2024 was a year of major progress for Vertical, launching our Flightpath 2030 strategy, advancing piloted flight testing, and strengthening our financial position. With our latest prototype surpassing performance expectations and key regulatory milestones bringing us closer to certification, we are reinforcing our position as Europe’s leading eVTOL company.”

“We will deliver the safest and most versatile aircraft in this space. At the core to achieving this is our collaboration with world-class aerospace partners and flying a full-scale prototype with a pilot on board. The momentum is building, and we’re all hugely excited for the year ahead.”

The Annual Report outlines Vertical’s progress in 2024 and recent updates, including:

Business Strategy & Funding:

- Flightpath 2030 launched - a clear strategy for achieving certification, production, and financial milestones to secure market leadership by 2030.

- Balance sheet restructured - $130M of debt converted to equity through an investment agreement with Mudrick Capital, with a fixed conversion rate for the remainder.

- $90 million upsized raise complete - including over $60 million from new investors and $25 million from Mudrick Capital.

Leadership strengthened - Dómhnal Slattery re-appointed as Chair and Eamonn Brennan, former Director General of Eurocontrol, appointed Board Adviser to enhance regulatory expertise.

Full-scale prototype development:

- Second, full-scale prototype complete, with assembly of the third and final prototype now underway at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre.

- Two full-scale piloted assets enables more flight tests and learnings which will shape the certification aircraft, the next aircraft Vertical builds.

Piloted flight testing:

- Second full-scale VX4 prototype began flight tests in July 2024, completing piloted thrustborne testing in February 2025, making it only the second company in the world to achieve this with a full-scale vectored thrust eVTOL

- Over 30 piloted test flights completed, capturing 5 million data points across 35,000 parameters to validate engineering models and system performance.

- Successful hover and low-speed manoeuvres executed, including roll, yaw, and spot-turns, with the aircraft exceeding expectations for reliability, stability, and performance.

Vertical is preparing for piloted wingborne flight, which it believes will be a world first for this type of electric aircraft.

Certification

- In July 2024, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) expanded the scope of Vertical’s Design Organisation Approval (DOA), a pre-requisite for European Type Certification, and agreed certification co-operation with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

- Next phase: wingborne flight, with CAA approval required to extend the Permit to Fly. This transition marks a key step toward certification and commercial viability as it will involve transitioning from a tightly controlled test environment to more dynamic, scalable operations. Once the aircraft has completed wingborne flight, the aircraft will have, in effect, completed a mini-certification process with this prototype.

Cash and outlook

- Maintained industry leading capital efficiency with FY 2024 net cash used in operating activities of £46 million ($58 million) including a £28 million ($34 million) cash settlement received from Rolls-Royce.

- As of 31 December 2024 cash and cash equivalents totalled £23 million ($28 million). Following receipt of gross proceeds from the public offering of £74 million ($90 million), the business is funded through FY 2025, with cash and cash equivalents totalling £77 million ($99 million) as of the date of this report.

- Net cash outflows from operating activities for FY 2025 are currently expected to be between approximately £90 million and £100 million ($110 million to $125 million).

Vertical will provide a hard copy of the Annual Report containing its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request.