Hill Helicopters HX50

[CGameProgrammerr]

For what it's worth, Magni is an Italian gyroplane manufacturer that does have a factory build-assist program that is recognized by the FAA, even though the factory is in Italy. US buyers fly there, build their gyro in Italy, and then it is shipped to the US. So it is obviously possible for the FAA to approve that outside the US since they have already done so.

[Brad Clark]

Originally Posted by CGameProgrammerr

For what it's worth, Magni is an Italian gyroplane manufacturer that does have a factory build-assist program that is recognized by the FAA, even though the factory is in Italy. US buyers fly there, build their gyro in Italy, and then it is shipped to the US. So it is obviously possible for the FAA to approve that outside the US since they have already done so.

You are correct because Magni has a dealer in the US that had the gyroplane for the FAA to evaluate on sight in the US. The M-14 and M-16 are listed on the FAA website. Does Hill have a US dealer?

[CGameProgrammerr]

So the FAA evaluated the fully-built gyroplane, or the build process?

[EXDAC]

Originally Posted by Brad Clark

Does Hill have a US dealer?

What would a US dealer have to sell? The helicopters don't exist until they are fabricated by the purchaser/builder. Are you proposing a US dealer network for pre-owned experimental HX50 rotorcraft?

[wrench1]

Originally Posted by Brad Clark

300L is yes and I never stopped. Lasy months shipment went to Thailand, today went to Indiana, next is Kazakhstan.

Great aircraft. There had been a rumor a while back that VAT had paused deliveries due to a move or something? Have you ever considered pursing the turbine option or maybe even the electric version from the original 52 that I believe your dad worked on? Lot of new hybrid aircraft-based powertrains coming out. Regardless, I think on the E/AB side, I wouldn't be surprised if the 300L was used as an informal benchmark in the development of the HX.

Does Hill have a US dealer?

My understanding is the HX will not have a dealer network in the conventional sense. However, there will be affiliated "support" centers in certain countries outside the UK to provide technical support. All builds and initial sales will be only out of the UK.

[admikar]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

It's not being sold at all at the moment

Oh, no, it's being sold allright.
Or pre-sold should be more appropriate term?

[Brad Clark]

I stopped briefly with the Hummingbird program back in 1996 to concentrate on building a helicopter for Lockheed Martin and development and FAA certification of the Whisper Jet for Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.

Yes, we are currently working on a hybrid with Verdego, and a Deltahawk diesel install. Battery technology is not there for a practical electric powerplant. A turbine has already been installed.
I recently bought the Type Certificate (CAR6) from Sikorsky so I will be introducing the Hummingbird to the commercial market with big changes.

Back to my original question.

To get the HX50 kit evaluated by the FAA would require a dealer or distributor in the US to have a kit on hand, with build manuals and packing list of the kit. This is how conformity is shown. This is the process to show eligibilty to the 51% rule. The FAA evaluation is not required, however if not, the builder must prove that it meets the 51% rule. The check list must be used.

Some are saying it's not sold as a kit.

To be eligible for 21.191(g) it has to be plans built or kit built. From there you can get commercial assistance,factory assistance in Hills case. Even with the FAA bill of sale the word aircraft is "X"'d out and "Kit" wrote in.

Customers are placing orders with the understanding they will show up for a couple of weeks and build a HX50. It appears there currently is no build program in place that is eligible meeting the 51% rule. I hope I'm wrong.

A kit helicopter competitor RotorX (previously Rotorway) recently took customer orders for three years and never delivered anything. Then they shut the doors. This hurt my business indirectly. I don't want to see this again. Again, I wish Hill all the support, however, please make sure it is being done under the spirit of the rule.

[Bell_ringer]

If we’re going to get semantically challenged, I would suggest that what you are paying for is a reservation, nothing more.

[CGameProgrammerr]

When I bought (and built) my gyroplane with factory assist, there was no kit. Later on, a dealer in Texas wanted to sell kits, so the factory eventually developed one, but it took time and effort - they had to write detailed instructions, make sure it counted as 51%, deal with packaging, etc. They apparently hadn't done that for the factory build-assist gyros. Maybe their local FSDO was more lenient...? They also counted as light sport, so maybe the FAA just doesn't scrutinize that as much.

Still, I can't imagine Hill is doing this without ensuring he can sell the HX50 because otherwise it's all pointless. (Well ultimately certification is the goal but that takes forever.)

[PPRuNeUser469990]

I notice that any "awkward" comments or questions are deleted from the Hill youtube videos and anyone who posts such things is blocked.

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

I notice that any "awkward" comments or questions are deleted from the Hill youtube videos and anyone who posts such things is blocked.

So the only transparency is the cockpit window then

[VM325]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

I notice that any "awkward" comments or questions are deleted from the Hill youtube videos and anyone who posts such things is blocked.

How do you know? Have you been banned?

Plenty of skeptic comments over tha last week or so, still there...

[EXDAC]

Originally Posted by Brad Clark

To be eligible for 21.191(g) it has to be plans built or kit built. From there you can get commercial assistance,factory assistance in Hills case. Even with the FAA bill of sale the word aircraft is "X"'d out and "Kit" wrote in.

I'm looking at the FAA CD files for my factory assist build aircraft. No such alteration was made. I found no mention of "Kit" in any of the documentation on file with FAA nor would I expect any such reference.

The FAA documents include form 8050-88 which is an Affidavit of Ownership and form field "Class" was entered as "Airplane". For a Hill factory assist build "Rotorcraft" would be entered in his field.

The form also requires an affirmation of the construction method -



Note that no bill of sale was required.

https://www.faa.gov/forms/index.cfm/...mentid/1019931

[[email protected]]

Self-certification - that sounds like adequate oversight from the authority.............

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by EXDAC

...The form also requires an affirmation of the construction method -


...

Interesting tick box option. I would say 100% of ANY helicopter or aircraft could be described as being built from "miscellaneous parts"!!

[EXDAC]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Interesting tick box option. I would say 100% of ANY helicopter or aircraft could be described as being built from "miscellaneous parts"!!

Not all helicopters or airplanes require an affidavit of ownership to be filed with FAA. Most will require only a Bill of Sale.

A bill of sale was not required for, and was not applicable to, the initial ownership and registration of my plans built aircraft. (This despite the misleading post saying a Bill of Sale would need to be altered to specify kit.)

[flylikebrik]

Affordable: HX50's Approach to Helicopter Ownership (latest video)

Must be the most delusional video ever made.
- HX50 has 0h of operation yet he guarantees the engine for 5k hours.
- Hill will sell HX50 based on what you can pay, not based on supply and demand.
- On top of that he now plans to provide Hill insurance on HX50.
This guy is an even bigger con artist that Elizabeth Holmes.

I am currently trying to figure out how to set up a betting pool on HX50.

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Very few engine updates recently.

[206 jock]

Originally Posted by flylikebrik

Affordable: HX50's Approach to Helicopter Ownership (latest video)

Must be the most delusional video ever made.
- HX50 has 0h of operation yet he guarantees the engine for 5k hours.
- Hill will sell HX50 based on what you can pay, not based on supply and demand.
- On top of that he now plans to provide Hill insurance on HX50.
This guy is an even bigger con artist that Elizabeth Holmes.

I am currently trying to figure out how to set up a betting pool on HX50.

I was rolling my eyes at the bit where he was saying that the components would last up to 100 years. So a new owner can have it for a few years and sell it as basically new. I gave up after that. Kool aid logic.

More holes than a Swiss cheese.

[PPRuNeUser469990]

Engine is going to last 5,000 hours, apparently.

Even though it hasnt been started yet..