Hill Helicopters HX50
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
A full year between first flight and start of production? That might be realistic given the amount of test flying that will need to be done but how long for first delivery?
Remind me again how long Hill has had people's money with no flying helicopter?
Remind me again how long Hill has had people's money with no flying helicopter?
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 35
Likes: 22
From: South Africa
Just watched the Dec update.
In summary:
- They have zero tested and completed parts (ie they do not even have prototypes of parts)
- Many of the test systems are not completed or do not exist
- Factory is not completed, still installing the composite manufacturing area.
- They plan to have a flying helicopter in 1 year and full production a year after that.
- Their timeline only works if every single part works on first test.
Seems very optimistic.
My take on their engine timeline: Took 5 years to design, going to take another 5 years of in-house testing (prototyping) and 5 years of field testing (commercialization). <--- This is how long it takes Safran to build an engine.
After that it will take at least 5 years to ramp up production.
The above is a timeline that will be used by a company that builds just the engine and has done this many time before.
The timeline that should be used by a company that build their first heli from scratch looks like this: 1/0
In summary:
- They have zero tested and completed parts (ie they do not even have prototypes of parts)
- Many of the test systems are not completed or do not exist
- Factory is not completed, still installing the composite manufacturing area.
- They plan to have a flying helicopter in 1 year and full production a year after that.
- Their timeline only works if every single part works on first test.
Seems very optimistic.
My take on their engine timeline: Took 5 years to design, going to take another 5 years of in-house testing (prototyping) and 5 years of field testing (commercialization). <--- This is how long it takes Safran to build an engine.
After that it will take at least 5 years to ramp up production.
The above is a timeline that will be used by a company that builds just the engine and has done this many time before.
The timeline that should be used by a company that build their first heli from scratch looks like this: 1/0
Guest
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 840
Likes: 236
All Hill need is to bolt it all together and get a 1 foot hover for 10 seconds, and they will get a ton more non-refundable cash deposits, so it's really irrelevant if it ever enters proper production or not.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 646
Likes: 18
From: Europe
A lovely read on certification process: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/...craft-safe-fly
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 27
Likes: 3
From: Montreal
Video of Production one facility
Anyone with a bit of production management expertise/experience and a rational mind can tell from that latest video just released today, that is a nice start up but soooo far from anything coming out as far as complete final product.
Good luck to all involved.
Good luck to all involved.
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
A lovely read on certification process: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/...craft-safe-fly
Joined: Dec 2017
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 977
Likes: 706
From: Yakima
Latest
GT50 Engine Milestone & HX50 Updates
: https://youtu.be/rU5phHZRQ58?si=EDL5D9eH0fbrLbLJLast edited by Winemaker; 9th January 2025 at 23:58.
Joined: Jan 2012
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 57
From: UK
Latest
GT50 Engine Milestone & HX50 Updates
: https://youtu.be/rU5phHZRQ58?si=EDL5D9eH0fbrLbLJwhat Tesla has got is an idea/story and IP which gives it access to capital. That’s the most important thing - access to capital.
You all may have used Ocado to deliver your groceries a billion quid entity that aims to make a profit at the group level by 2030..https://www.reuters.com/business/ret...ds-2024-02-29/
as that relates to aviation just look at recent odd (not sure that’s the right word but certainly niche) programs pushing a story and accessing capital. I read about Hybrid Air Vehicles and a new site of manufacturing in Doncaster (have they sold any?). PAL-V making some new blades for its Gyroplane (have they sold any?) and Vertical Aerospace getting $50m more funding for the VX-4 eVTOL project..(have they sold any!??).
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Joined: Jul 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 508
Likes: 31
From: UK
For all the non-believers that think this is a scam, take a look at this video tour of the production centre that’s recently been released. It’s hugely impressive.
This is such an ambitious project; I sincerely wish Jason and the whole team every success.
(Jason, if you read this, I’ll gladly volunteer to put some hours on the prototypes for you!)
JJ
This is such an ambitious project; I sincerely wish Jason and the whole team every success.
(Jason, if you read this, I’ll gladly volunteer to put some hours on the prototypes for you!)
JJ
Joined: Jun 2012
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 369
Likes: 77
From: SE of there
Very few here said this will never happen. Most of us questioned timeline and were proven correct.
Performance is yet to be seen.
And speaking of building, not really impresive if you take into accoount how much money he received. It would be more impresive to see a prototype/s in more finished form than we have seen so far.
Performance is yet to be seen.
And speaking of building, not really impresive if you take into accoount how much money he received. It would be more impresive to see a prototype/s in more finished form than we have seen so far.