Hill Helicopters HX50
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Berlin
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Interesting Youtube interview with a business working on a similarly sized power plant to the Hill unit. TurbAero are developing a new turbine engine in the 200hp class for GA applications, time scales and parts sourcing mentioned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpsT-iBw1E
Oink, oink, oink
I think the use of the words 'currently scheduled to take flight' leaves loads of room for slippage (sorry, rescheduling) - getting test flying done in winter weather will be interesting.
I suspect this long thread will continue to go back and forth as things are designed. “He got an engine but look it blew up ha ha”. “Look it flies but they had ground resonance how **** is that”. “They made their factory but it was late”. “Oh yeah they are selling but it’s a long wait time and £100k more than they promised”. “Oh look it only goes 140kts, all those hill evangilists said it would probably go 160”. “Haha look it’s got an AD for this issue now - we said that would be a problem 3 years ago”. People will always complain.
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Haters gonna hate I guess.
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My own personal prediction is that Hill will get - -something- in the air by Spring 2024, there will be fancy video etc and lots of talk, and this will unlock a ton of new funding/orders, and this saga will run for another 5 years at least
Last edited by hargreaves99; 15th Aug 2023 at 11:48.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: uk
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I don't think anyone hates Hill or wants this to fail but he just needs to be more realistic on the time scales. I hope he does make this a success, provide a large amount of direct/indirect jobs and also help bring back aircraft manufacture to the UK. If I had the money, I would invest in an attractive looking HX50 rather than other say a new R44/R66 or a 505!
He can't control the planning purpose, which may have a big effect on the time scales, but he should give updates to manage clients/buyers expectations.
Simple questions as I have no idea about these,
Once a helicopter is 50+% built by the owner , what are there any restrictions on the flights? Is there a minimum hours requirement within a certain range of the "build area" ?
Would it not have been better to build the factory on an existing airfield ? Personally, I would have put in planning permissions at atleast two different sites so that the councils would be aware that they could loose lots of jobs by rejecting the planning.
He can't control the planning purpose, which may have a big effect on the time scales, but he should give updates to manage clients/buyers expectations.
Simple questions as I have no idea about these,
Once a helicopter is 50+% built by the owner , what are there any restrictions on the flights? Is there a minimum hours requirement within a certain range of the "build area" ?
Would it not have been better to build the factory on an existing airfield ? Personally, I would have put in planning permissions at atleast two different sites so that the councils would be aware that they could loose lots of jobs by rejecting the planning.
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: In the village
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I am a resident in the village sorry hamlet and I'd like Dr Hill to tell me where he's got that figure of 1.5m to the area for hospitality when he couldn't answer at the local planning meeting i attended how many decibels take off would be ?
You couldnt spend that in 2 years around here never mind 2 weeks !
Even the planning committee won't fall for that.
As for Stoke Air Ambulance .... pfffft
You couldnt spend that in 2 years around here never mind 2 weeks !
Even the planning committee won't fall for that.
As for Stoke Air Ambulance .... pfffft
I do feel it was idiotic for him not to build at or near an airport; people complain about noise from airports too but they were the ones that bought houses near an airport so they have nothing to complain about. But these farmers do have legitimate concerns because Hill is trying to build a heliport where previously there was none, so that would be noise that wasn't there before. They're not that loud of course (not like jets) but obviously property owners will try to stop it.
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: United Kingdom
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Are they electromechanical servos controlling the lower swash plate in place of hydraulics?
The main rotors appear to attach and feather/flap/lead-lag through the use a flex beam and pitch case setup a bit like the MD902 (one of the smoothest helicopters out there).
The main rotors appear to attach and feather/flap/lead-lag through the use a flex beam and pitch case setup a bit like the MD902 (one of the smoothest helicopters out there).
I know there is logic for everything, but I am not so excited about the mixing unit in the elements at the rotor head, and push-pull cable controls for a single hydraulic craft.
