UK-based Vertical Aerospace has selected a 30G energy-absorbing seating system and Northrop Grumman navigation technology for its Valo electric flying taxi, as the company moves toward aircraft certification and production.
The Bristol-based aircraft developer announced two long-term supplier agreements on October 16. South Korea’s ANH Structure will develop and manufacture the aircraft’s seats, while Germany-based Northrop Grumman LITEF will supply its LCR-110 inertial reference system.
The seating system will incorporate technology designed to absorb high impact forces during a crash. Meanwhile, the navigation system will provide essential flight information, including the aircraft’s orientation, heading and position.
Both systems are intended for Valo, Vertical’s piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which is being developed to carry four passengers. The agreements establish supplier responsibilities but do not mean the completed systems have been certified for the aircraft.
Seats designed for impact
ANH Structure will design, develop, certify and manufacture a common seating platform for Valo’s pilots, observers and passengers. The seats will incorporate the company’s proprietary 30G energy-absorption technology.
The 30G figure refers to acceleration equivalent to 30 times Earth’s gravity. Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.
However, Vertical has not disclosed crash-test results for the finished Valo seating system. The supplier will still need to complete development, testing and certification before the seats enter production.
ANH holds European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) design and production organization approvals. These credentials allow the company to undertake approved aerospace design and manufacturing work, although they do not constitute certification of the new seats.
The agreement covers the process from detailed design through industrial production. A common seating architecture could also help Vertical use similar components across different versions of its aircraft.
Navigation supports flight control
Northrop Grumman LITEF, a German subsidiary of the US defense and aerospace company, will supply the LCR-110 inertial reference system.
The system provides information about an aircraft’s attitude, heading and position to flight-critical systems. Attitude describes how an aircraft is tilted or oriented in flight, while heading indicates the direction it is pointing.
Such information is important for an eVTOL aircraft, which must manage vertical takeoffs, transitions between flight conditions, and conventional forward flight.
According to Vertical, the LCR-110 meets applicable EASA and Federal Aviation Administration technical standards for inertial reference equipment. Its existing approvals do not remove the need to integrate and certify the system as part of Valo.
The agreements add to Vertical’s supplier network, which includes Honeywell Aerospace, Sonaca, Evolito and Hyundai WIA.
Vertical plans to use a common aircraft platform for four- and six-passenger configurations, as well as electric, hybrid-electric and autonomous variants. These remain part of its development strategy rather than a range of certified aircraft.
The company says it has approximately 1,500 preorders from customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Avolon and Japan Airlines. Those commitments do not represent completed aircraft deliveries.
The latest agreements secure suppliers for two important aircraft systems, but Vertical must still complete development, integration, and regulatory certification before Valo can enter commercial service.