垂直起降是指固定机翼飞机可以垂直起飞或在无跑道情况下正常起飞，但一般来说诸如直升机、气球等不作为垂直起降飞机考虑。

垂直起降可能借助4种方法：

• 利用倾转旋翼，如波音公司的V-22及阿古斯特维斯特兰的AW609倾转旋翼机
• 利用推力矢量技术，如AV-8，雅克-36及F-35B
• 利用额外的举升发动机，如雅克-38及雅克-141
• 利用旋转机翼，如波音公司的X-50

• F-35B（推力矢量）垂直起降动力解剖图

• Yak-38（额外的举升发动机）垂直起降动力解剖图

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can hover, take off, and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors. Some VTOL aircraft can operate in other modes as well, such as CTOL (conventional take-off and landing), STOL (short take-off and landing), and/or STOVL (short take-off and vertical landing). Others, such as some helicopters, can only operate by VTOL, due to the aircraft lacking landing gear that can handle horizontal motion. VTOL is a subset of V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off and landing).