Hill Helicopters HX50
I doubt helicopter manufacturers, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to ignore superior materials for aircraft safety for no reason.
An airliner window and a helicopter cockpit are somewhat different in requirement.
An airliner window and a helicopter cockpit are somewhat different in requirement.
Crab
If you made the canopy out of polycarbonate you wouldn't have a problem but the helicopter world makes its " glass" out of acrylic ( an illegal material for use in machines that require operator protection ) which shatters into knife like shards. If you were on the streets of Belfast we had Makrelon shields similar to polycarbonate, you could fire a baton round at it and it wouldnt break ! So why an earth does the aviation world put up with the wrong product ??????
If you made the canopy out of polycarbonate you wouldn't have a problem but the helicopter world makes its " glass" out of acrylic ( an illegal material for use in machines that require operator protection ) which shatters into knife like shards. If you were on the streets of Belfast we had Makrelon shields similar to polycarbonate, you could fire a baton round at it and it wouldnt break ! So why an earth does the aviation world put up with the wrong product ??????
Optional impact-resistant windshields for R22, R44, and R66 helicopters provide protection from bird strikes. The new windshields are constructed of tough, energy-absorbing polycarbonate (standard windshields are made of acrylic) and installed with distinctive retention hardware. A special hard coating provides protection from scratching and weather degradation.
Tests demonstrate the R22’s windshield provides protection at impact speeds up to 90 knots, while the R44 and R66 windshields provide protection at impact speeds up to 100 knots. Impact-resistant windshields increase the R22’s empty weight by 1 lb and by 1.2. lb for the R44 and R66. No special maintenance or inspections are required, although a cabin cover is recommended for prolonged outdoor exposure.
Tests demonstrate the R22’s windshield provides protection at impact speeds up to 90 knots, while the R44 and R66 windshields provide protection at impact speeds up to 100 knots. Impact-resistant windshields increase the R22’s empty weight by 1 lb and by 1.2. lb for the R44 and R66. No special maintenance or inspections are required, although a cabin cover is recommended for prolonged outdoor exposure.
Last edited by Hot and Hi; 26th Aug 2020 at 20:03. Reason: Adding description from RHC website
Crab
I have seen the result on two pilots ( customers ) of acrylic windshields splintering. One in a coma for 2 weeks due to piece of acrylic puncturing skull. The other 25 stitches to head. However if either had been wearing a helmet then no problem
Manufacturers are only interested in profit so using cheap inferior materials means more profit. They only change when the pressure is on. EG Robinson fuel tanks,
I have seen the result on two pilots ( customers ) of acrylic windshields splintering. One in a coma for 2 weeks due to piece of acrylic puncturing skull. The other 25 stitches to head. However if either had been wearing a helmet then no problem
Manufacturers are only interested in profit so using cheap inferior materials means more profit. They only change when the pressure is on. EG Robinson fuel tanks,
Hughes 500 - it would seem from the post about the Robinson windshield that it just requires the technology to advance sufficiently to allow the manufacture ( at reasonable cost) using superior materials.
Will be interesting to see if the Hill uses polycarbonate for the new helicopter.
Shame about your customers, were they both in Gazelles? I wouldn't fly low level without a helmet with a visor down.
Will be interesting to see if the Hill uses polycarbonate for the new helicopter.
Shame about your customers, were they both in Gazelles? I wouldn't fly low level without a helmet with a visor down.
Both in a 500,
Not birdstrikes a bit more severe
One tail rotor blade pitch horn snapped, ac forced landing, rolled over shattering plexiglass with shard entering skull
second customer on finals flew through a set of power lines rolled machine end over end 3 times, again shard of plexiglass into skull.
Both would have been ok with a helmet or polycarbonate windshield, I still get funny looks as I wont get in a helicopter without wearing my lid
Not birdstrikes a bit more severe
One tail rotor blade pitch horn snapped, ac forced landing, rolled over shattering plexiglass with shard entering skull
second customer on finals flew through a set of power lines rolled machine end over end 3 times, again shard of plexiglass into skull.
Both would have been ok with a helmet or polycarbonate windshield, I still get funny looks as I wont get in a helicopter without wearing my lid
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Anybody else get a strange satisfaction watching someone belt a robby with a sledge hammer?
Judging by the deformation that happens, the windscreen will still need to be replaced post bird impact (north of $6000) though.
Think $6000 better than a buzzard in the head or chest, say average weight 1.1 Kg @ 80 kts + single pilot not a good bet.
Always wondered about canopy material
Always wondered about canopy material
Robinson is exactly doing that: Polycarbonate impact-resistant windshields
https://youtu.be/gEvehu3ESZY
https://youtu.be/gEvehu3ESZY
Back to the original subject, I would be shocked if they ever even get so far as building a prototype of this helicopter and the proposed timeline is so laughable it sounds like a scam or something. The Kopter SH09 created a flying prototype 6 years ago and it's still not out. Of course that's supposed to be single-pilot IFR whereas this will definitely be VFR. And powered wheels? Who asked for that?
Thread Starter
Back to the original subject,I would be shocked if they ever even get so far as building a prototype of this helicopterand the proposed timeline is so laughable it sounds like a scam or something. The Kopter SH09 created a flying prototype 6 years ago and it's still not out. Of course that's supposed to be single-pilot IFR whereas this will definitely be VFR. And powered wheels? Who asked for that?
I would be shocked if they ever even get so far as building a prototype of this helicopter
The Kopter SH09 created a flying prototype 6 years ago and it's still not out.
Thread Starter
I have posted nothing which isn't in the public domain from Hill.
I can use Google, try it sometime...
Does that make you an over-optimistic half-wit then? 
You're being a bit harsh when people are legitimately skeptical about rather broad claims.
I think most of the luddites here know a little something about helicopters and the chequered history thereof (and British manufacturing in general).
I really hope they prove everyone wrong, that is a pretty machine and investment in the industry is never a bad thing.
You're being a bit harsh when people are legitimately skeptical about rather broad claims.
I think most of the luddites here know a little something about helicopters and the chequered history thereof (and British manufacturing in general).
I really hope they prove everyone wrong, that is a pretty machine and investment in the industry is never a bad thing.
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If you want to avoid skepticism from the 'doom-laden Luddites' publish some actual information rather than a wish list of performance characteristics.
Perhaps some photos of the prototypes being built, an indication of which engine it will have.
Perhaps some photos of the prototypes being built, an indication of which engine it will have.
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by [email protected]
If you want to avoid skepticism from the 'doom-laden Luddites' publish some actual information rather than a wish list of performance characteristics.
Perhaps some photos of the prototypes being built, an indication of which engine it will have.
Perhaps some photos of the prototypes being built, an indication of which engine it will have.
Hill have had a grant from Innovate UK.
I've worked on a couple of UAV projects they've backed, I can assure you that they don't back wild dreamers or scammers.
They need hard evidence of past and future progress before handing over a penny...