Hill Helicopters HX50
Could be a SAR version for Crab maybe?
Hope it comes with a stairlift to the cockpit...
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Is there the touch of Walter Mitty about Jason Hill? Honestly, his sole focus should be delivering his current project (including showing the world some meaningful moving parts), not dreaming of a range of Hills.
He does say he has contingency options in regards to the factory, which he can't talk about, and I'm sure he does because it'd be foolish not to. Also, even just a flying prototype, or ideally trickling out a couple of production units, would inspire a very large increase in deposits. Starting slow is fine.
Telling his depositors that he was up ****creek without a paddle wouldn't help future deposits.
He loves to talk about things he wants to talk about (those damn doorhandles) but when it suits him, can't talk about some rather important details (rotor system, facilities).
Very convenient, and his Hillievers lap it up like hungry little puppies.
Perhaps Dr Hill is aware that getting planning will be very hard and until that's built, he cannot realistically be held to account on production of real, flying aircraft. It probably doesn't help his case when one of his boasts was that the Hill heliport (Hilliport?) would be busier than BHX when it's fully functioning: I wouldn't want to live next door to that, no matter what noise mitigations are in place. And even in the faint hope that he gets planning, there will be loads of conditions to overcome before he can break ground: there will be a pond with Great crested newts within 100m, or a watercourse with watervoles, wildlife-friendly lighting (I kid you not) etc etc that will need approving by the planners.
I have previously mentioned the parallels with the allegedly resurgent TVR car brand: I placed a deposit for one of these back in 2016, with a promise of a car in 2018 - didn't happen of course, but they had a working prototype in that year. There is still no sign of production and 'the factory' was a source of blame for a long while: https://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/16073/tvr-...duled-for-2023
Fortunately, the TVR deposit was refundable.
I have previously mentioned the parallels with the allegedly resurgent TVR car brand: I placed a deposit for one of these back in 2016, with a promise of a car in 2018 - didn't happen of course, but they had a working prototype in that year. There is still no sign of production and 'the factory' was a source of blame for a long while: https://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/16073/tvr-...duled-for-2023
Fortunately, the TVR deposit was refundable.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...factory-empty/
Here is another update
Cheers
Cheers
Upping the anti and a promise of jam tomorrow
I'm sure that in the early days John DeLorean was thought to be a genius while those questioning his plans would have been painted as cynics
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Theranos Helicopters, a Holmes Hill collaboration! - should be ready to fly her from prison, maybe..
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A bunch of grumpy old men
yep, you’re all right. There’s no way Jason Hill will meet these timelines. But otherwise I must say he has balls to do what he’s doing. Every month there are significant leaps forward on all fronts. The pace of development is something to acknowledge. Blows out of the water the lethargic pace of development of all the major manufacturers. He will pull this off, it may be 2-5 years before we see full scale production but who cares. He’s revolutionising Aviation and his product is light years ahead in terms of refinement from the overpriced, utilitarian offerings currently there. The R22/R44 is a joke for 2023. Even the R66 is an embarrassment really. I fly an EC120 and love it, but the doors don’t even close properly.
how about you all stop being such grumpy farts and actually applaud Jason Hill for what he’s doing. You are all pilots and helicopter fans, so let’s get behind this. It’s about time our industry gets an agitator.
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^^^^^. Another deposit holder!
Fair enough. The sceptics are all wrong and will regret not buying the Hill and all other helicopters will instantly depreciate by 90% in the day that the first flight happens and zzzzzzz
Fair enough. The sceptics are all wrong and will regret not buying the Hill and all other helicopters will instantly depreciate by 90% in the day that the first flight happens and zzzzzzz
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It might be revolutionary and light years ahead when it is finally built and flying - until then it's a fantasy team wish list
You’re at it again! t
Fair enough. The sceptics are all wrong and will regret not buying the Hill and all other helicopters will instantly depreciate by 90% in the day that the first flight happens and zzzzzzz[/QUOTE]
Does ANYONE on here npt agree that our industry needs a shake up? All the manufacturers focus on commercial use- sales to charter/tour companies. government EMS and ultra wealthy VIP transport.
An affordable option (both initial outlay and ongoing servicing) for the private owner is very limited. R44: no baggage space and designed over 30yrs ago. R66: looks like a 44 and also throw it away after 12 years. B206: awesome aircraft but very dated now, and rear cabin terrible for rest of the family. Many don’t even have air conditioning. 505: disappointing successor to the mighty Jetranger. And costs over $2m. EC120- great machine but no longer made or supported. Squirrel- really for utility use, and burns 180L/hr, and a new B3 now $5m.
The mere fact that >900 people have put deposits down on the HX50 says there’s a market for a heli designed specifically for private use. That is more than the annual sales of all civilian helicopters from all manufacturers combined. If the HX50 never eventuates, at least all the current manufacturers have now seen the demand and might actually respond and bring something out- eg an EC120 mark 2. Jason Hill made that happen.
but, if he manages to pull it off, he will be the next frank robinson.
Does ANYONE on here npt agree that our industry needs a shake up? All the manufacturers focus on commercial use- sales to charter/tour companies. government EMS and ultra wealthy VIP transport.
An affordable option (both initial outlay and ongoing servicing) for the private owner is very limited. R44: no baggage space and designed over 30yrs ago. R66: looks like a 44 and also throw it away after 12 years. B206: awesome aircraft but very dated now, and rear cabin terrible for rest of the family. Many don’t even have air conditioning. 505: disappointing successor to the mighty Jetranger. And costs over $2m. EC120- great machine but no longer made or supported. Squirrel- really for utility use, and burns 180L/hr, and a new B3 now $5m.
The mere fact that >900 people have put deposits down on the HX50 says there’s a market for a heli designed specifically for private use. That is more than the annual sales of all civilian helicopters from all manufacturers combined. If the HX50 never eventuates, at least all the current manufacturers have now seen the demand and might actually respond and bring something out- eg an EC120 mark 2. Jason Hill made that happen.
but, if he manages to pull it off, he will be the next frank robinson.
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Essentially crowdfunding a helicopter
I wonder what the legacy manufacturers think of Hill? Is it #1 item on the agenda of every Board meeting they hold? Is one (or more) of them lining up a purchase of the upstart to take them out of the equation (is that JH's real plan?)?
Or are they mostly concerned that there are few potential purchasers holding off buying one of their machines as they are Hill 'buyers'.
Who knows, eh?
Or are they mostly concerned that there are few potential purchasers holding off buying one of their machines as they are Hill 'buyers'.
Who knows, eh?
I keep meeting more and more people in the UK that have placed a deposit on one.
Hill must be pissing off the major manufacturers a bit, one helicopter sales broker did say to me that Hill was hoovering up a lot of sales that would have gone to the R44/R66/B505/EC120 etc
Hill must be pissing off the major manufacturers a bit, one helicopter sales broker did say to me that Hill was hoovering up a lot of sales that would have gone to the R44/R66/B505/EC120 etc
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