Hill promises a light helicopter revolution with HX50

A UK-based team led by Dr. Jason Hill is promising market disruption with its HX50 helicopter. You can only make something truly ground-breaking by designing from the ground up, he says.

Hill Helicopters has unveiled its disruptive, ground-up new helicopter, the HX50. The five-seat, turbine-powered, 500-horsepower rotorcraft is claimed to be the world's first truly private, luxury helicopter crafted to deliver a whole new experience in safety, performance, adventure, comfort and elegance.

The HX50 is currently in the advanced design phase, with three prototypes scheduled to begin flight testing in 2022. The first deliveries are anticipated to take place in 2023.

Designed by a team of hand-selected, highly skilled engineers led by aeronautics engineer Dr. Jason Hill, Ph.D., the HX50 is a fusion of refined performance and artistic elegance. Its composite structure and rotor system, optimized engine, reimagined avionics, and elevated interior design together make the HX50 an exquisite, high tech and high-performance personal aircraft.

"The helicopter industry has long awaited an Elon Musk-style disruption that redefines the modern helicopter. The wait is over," says Hill, founder and CEO of Hill Helicopters. "The only way to create something that is truly groundbreaking is to design from the ground up, giving equal focus to aerospace design, performance, and safety as well as to the artistic and experiential aspects, including comfort, ergonomics, intuitive technology, and luxury. The HX50 brings all of this together to deliver a truly unique aircraft and experience."

The HX50's anticipated performance and characteristics are: Gross weight 3,630 lbs (1650 kg), payload 1,760 lbs (800 kg), max cruise speed 140 kts (at max gross weight up to 10,000 feet), and capacity five people, including pilot.

A 20-year helicopter pilot, Dr. Hill founded Hill Helicopters to design the ideal personal luxury helicopter that blends the latest safety and efficient performance technology with a truly luxurious and high-tech experience. Hill received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Aston University and a Ph.D. in aeronautics from Canfield University. After building considerable helicopter engineering experience at GKN Westland (now Leonardo) he founded Dynamiq Engineering, delivering world-class engineering analysis, design, product and technology development to global clients across the engineering industry. With hand-picked engineers from Dynamiq Engineering and beyond, Hill formed Hill Helicopters to build the world's first truly ground-up helicopter since the invention of rotorcraft flight. The company remains fully owned by Hill, allowing his team complete creative control to meet ambitious designs and timelines.