Hill Helicopters HX50

[hargreaves99]

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-find-public...nalNumber=6933

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-find-public...nalNumber=6989

[VM325]

Originally Posted by VM325

It's just taken me less than a minute to search for the patent in question.
Here's a clue.
GB2599344A

There's quite a few patents linked to Hill Helicopters...

[admikar]

Point is, if there is nothing new, why is it patent protected in the first place?

[VM325]

Originally Posted by admikar

Point is, if there is nothing new, why is it patent protected in the first place?

Read the patent...

It's predominately about the tightness of the rotor hub fairing and the positioning of the control runs behind the head inside the fairing.

[SansAnhedral]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Not sure how you were able to work out the material just from a video clip? Keep in mind that this initial assembly may only to be to test construction of a concept so need not be final materials or surface treatments.

2 decades of designing and building these things for OEMs gives a good eye for this type of stuff, not to mention them showing their CNC setup on a similar component machining Al plate stock and the kellering over all the parts.

Griphorns, in general, can be problematic even when made of proper hand forged and peened material. Hill's overall setup seems to be copying Hughes 369/500 though without lead-lag discrete dampers or tying strap packs to opposite side blades (so more like AH-64).

With regard to the head + sail fairing, this is a historically tough nut to crack - particularly in a volume production application. At Sikorsky, it was found to be difficult to maintain the close clearances (Hill mentions 10mm in his patent) and even in the end abandoned on the one-off X2 tech demonstrator.

Personally I'd like to see some...any...info on the real blades as that is my wheelhouse.

[Hughes500]

he spent a load of time with one of my 500's looking at the head and was trying to borrow one, but that was some years ago now

[megan]

there are no blade retention loads in the grip only pitch change and pitch bearing axis

Mate found that out in a 205 that ended with a ditching (fixed floats) because of vibration. Blade grip had cracked circumferentialy the full 360° so the only retention was the tension/torsion strap. On shutdown the blade drooped to the extent that it was punctured by the roof mounted VHF antenna. Grip had been supplied as new where as it had somehow snuck back into the distributor supply chain when it should have been scrapped after running out of hours.

[RVDT]

Originally Posted by megan

Mate found that out in a 205 that ended with a ditching (fixed floats) because of vibration. Blade grip had cracked circumferentialy the full 360° so the only retention was the tension/torsion strap. On shutdown the blade drooped to the extent that it was punctured by the roof mounted VHF antenna. Grip had been supplied as new where as it had somehow snuck back into the distributor supply chain when it should have been scrapped after running out of hours.

Old Bells are a different design when it comes to load paths and there have been plenty of "issues" over the years. 47 relies on an internally threaded grip? A few have been shucked due to cracks deep within the threads.
The design is question is similar to the H500 - there are no blade retention loads in the "pitch housings".

[hargreaves99]

I keep meeting more and more people (in real life) that genuinely think when the HX50 is produced, the R66, R44, B206 and B505 will all "become worthless"

[admikar]

Well, if HX/HC 50 turns out to be all that is promised, at promised price point, why would anyone buy those helicopters?

[206 jock]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

I keep meeting more and more people (in real life) that genuinely think when the HX50 is produced, the R66, R44, B206 and B505 will all "become worthless"

Well, let's hope that JH has sold his R66 by then. And of course that the fantasy promised gets delivered.

In the meantime, I'll hold onto my 206, if that's OK. At least I can actually fly it, not just gaze at a poster and touch myself! I've talked to lots of other JetRanger owners and none of them are even interested in the Hill. Go figure.

[Pittsextra]

Easy to get trapped by getting wedded to an initial position and then either becoming overly optimistic or negative. Outside of the opportunity to make money or not out of trading a place on the order book the prospect of actually flying a customer aircraft (and remember the HC/HX distinction) stated deliveries is 2025 (and that in itself gives a 12 month window) and I don’t think Robinson or Bell need to fear much this decade.

[hargreaves99]

Hill are still saying two prototypes flying this year (2024).

No working engine yet.

[[email protected]]

It's like the Time Warp except there is no step to the left before a jump to the right.

No engine run in 2023? Let's do the Time Warp again.................

[[email protected]]

Or indeed a jump to the left before a step to the right as I am sure someone will point out

[JDJ]

Originally Posted by Jetexec

..... "If you had the disposable money, would you consider purchasing a Hill Helicopter?".....

Yes, I would order an HX50, and buy a 206 or 505 while I waited.

[hargreaves99]

Some interesting comments below the video..

You Tube

[JDJ]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

Some interesting comments below the video..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM5i-F9aD4Y

- Yes, best just to read the comments and not bother with the video!

[hargreaves99]

Originally Posted by CRAN

An amazing achievement indeed. I fly the 66 regularly and as an all round practical personal helicopter nothing beats it.

Well done Kurt & Team.
CRAN

(Aug 2020)

Robinson R66 (merged threads)

[PowerPedal]

Originally Posted by megan

Crab has been in the industry long enough to see airframe and engine manufacturers of long, long experience having difficulties with new products..

don’t we all wish we had a Megan!