Future of Flight Takes Center Stage in Miami Beach as Vertical Aerospace Introduces Valo Electric Air Taxi at The Bass Museum.

February 27th, 2026

The Miami debut of Valo, the next-generation electric air taxi from Vertical Aerospace, unfolded against the iconic backdrop of the The Bass Museum in Collins Park, offering media, guests, and the public an inside look at a quieter, greener future of travel. Set in the heart of Miami Beach, the aircraft’s sleek design stood in striking contrast to the Art Deco architecture, underscoring the role advanced air mobility could play in dense, design-forward urban environments like South Florida.

Over two days, visitors explored the aircraft, met the team behind its development, and learned how electric flight could offer a quieter, cleaner alternative to congestion across the region. Vertical is working with operating and infrastructure partners to explore a network of routes for its electric and hybrid-electric aircraft across South Florida that would transform key journeys for one of the country’s most traffic-constrained corridors.

On Tuesday, February 24th, the first evening of Valo’s Miami debut concluded with a cocktail reception, where media, influencers and VIP guests attended to take an up-close look at the aircraft and hear firsthand why South Florida is emerging as an important market for advanced air mobility.

In remarks given at the evening reception, Dómhnal Slattery, Chairman of Vertical Aerospace, emphasized why the moment — and markets like Miami — matter.

“Today, the most frustrating part of travel is often the first mile or the last. Time matters. Ease matters. Comfort matters. And our customers’ passengers expect – and deserve – all three,” Slattery said. “With Vertical, we see an opportunity to bring passengers into the network of our airline customers faster and more seamlessly – from city center to hub to global destination. This isn’t technology for its own sake. It’s about making travel smoother, more efficient, and more premium from start to finish.”

On hand and representing one of Vertical Aerospace’s key airline partners was Steve Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at American Airlines, the leading carrier at MIA airport. The airline recently announced its $1B investment in Miami airport concourse expansion.

A standout moment on Tuesday afternoon was a visit from students of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, who traveled from Daytona Beach to tour the aircraft and took part in a Q&A session led by Chief Engineer David King, and Michael Cervenka, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer.  The session offered a rare opportunity for future aerospace engineers to engage directly with the technology — and the people — shaping the next generation of flight.