PPRuNe Forums

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Rotorheads (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads-23/)
-   -   Hill Helicopters HX50 (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/628019-hill-helicopters-hx50.html)

Agile 26th Apr 2021 09:38


Does it fly yet???????????
No, but honestly his rendering work is really top class, I have not seen virtual modeling that good that I can remember. So maybe the actual hardware will also be top class?

casper64 26th Apr 2021 10:10

Good luck certifying all of that....
oh, and nice and shiney plastics reflect like crazy in windscreens and destroy your outward vision.... just a hint 😉

aa777888 26th Apr 2021 11:00

It's so different from a Garmin/Collins/Honeywell/etc. setup that I was immediately turned off. Hell, it doesn't even seem to have and speed, altitude and heading bugs but maybe I missed those. The were some quite prominent autopilot controls. Love the pop-up emergency procedures. Maybe it is time for some out of the box thinking. It will undoubtedly evolve a lot over the next year or so. I'll probably never fly one but I'd give it a chance :)

I guess they got a lot of questions about redundancy because Mischa made another video about that:


toptobottom 26th Apr 2021 15:02

"Synthetic Vision" looks like a fast track ticket to the Darwin Awards for the "hold my beer" VFR pilot

Hot and Hi 26th Apr 2021 15:37


There's some things I really like about it.
Sure, without a doubt. But is that the question? I am sure many of us have the experience, imagination and vision to come up with great ideas of features that would be really nice to have.

Greatest example: Twice the capabilities at half the price :-)

I also applaud the outside-in perspective. Many sectors could benefit from this, and all insiders fight this tooth and nail.

But the claim here is not alone that it would be nice, but that it can be done, within time and budget, and safely. It’s easier said than done.

HeliHenri 26th Apr 2021 17:02


Originally Posted by Hot and Hi (Post 11034294)
It’s easier said than done.

Like everything except speaking, so ... ?
.



CGameProgrammerr 26th Apr 2021 21:04


Originally Posted by toptobottom (Post 11034279)
"Synthetic Vision" looks like a fast track ticket to the Darwin Awards for the "hold my beer" VFR pilot

What an odd thing to say about a technology that has already been widely deployed in all kinds of aircraft for years.

[email protected] 27th Apr 2021 04:55

It's not been that accessible for pilots of light single helis though - I think that is his point, 'amateur' owners looking to push on in poor weather using synthetic vision.

aa777888 27th Apr 2021 10:21


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 11034497)
It's not been that accessible for pilots of light single helis though - I think that is his point, 'amateur' owners looking to push on in poor weather using synthetic vision.

Synthetic vision is available to every Foreflight and Garmin Pilot user on the ever ubiquitous cockpit iPad, which describes nearly every light single pilot I know.

That said, I've never seen anyone fly based on synthetic vision. I personally find it terribly distracting. For me it is much easier to think in terms of the basic instrument readings. I wonder that if that is because synthetic vision contains no 3D cues.

[email protected] 27th Apr 2021 11:19

Ah yes, forgot about the ipad - I was meaning having the capability provided by the manufacturer. I wouldn't be relying on an ipad app to save my life in poor weather.

Bell_ringer 27th Apr 2021 12:39


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 11034706)
Ah yes, forgot about the ipad - I was meaning having the capability provided by the manufacturer. I wouldn't be relying on an ipad app to save my life in poor weather.

For modern aircraft, it's available in newer generations of the Garmin suite, so no need for an ipad.
Hill needs to remember that there are countries where the sun shines regularly and temperatures are well above "mild". In these conditions an ipad will go thermal in minutes.

It would be really good to see an actual aircraft prototype. So far it is all style over substance.
I still can't see how he is reinventing the helicopter, it just seems like the same stuff made a lot prettier, but then that is what Steve Jobs did to the mobile phone.

With all the premium vehicle analogies, perhaps he should rather have put his expertise to Britains version of Tesla.

[email protected] 27th Apr 2021 12:43


With all the premium vehicle analogies, perhaps he should rather have put his expertise to Britains version of Tesla.
Lets hope the shut lines and build quality are better:)

CGameProgrammerr 27th Apr 2021 17:00

Bell, there are iPad mounts with fans specifically for aircraft; I've had CFIs use one while flying R44s. Obviously Hill's mount would do the same. You cannot use an iPad for anything important but for an MFD it's fine. The PFD displays need to use a real-time operating system and be especially resilient.

krypton_john 27th Apr 2021 21:22


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 11034497)
It's not been that accessible for pilots of light single helis though - I think that is his point, 'amateur' owners looking to push on in poor weather using synthetic vision.

It is becoming so. Widely available on Garmin EFIS models, so commonly available on the likes of B407, B505 etc. Add to the now widely available HeliSAS stabilised autopilots and it's a VFR pilot's temptation into IFR.


206 jock 27th Apr 2021 21:39

I wonder what you get if you don't opt for the HDC? And if I read it right the standard spec is for a skid configuration (never seen a pic of that) and the autopilot is an option.

I managed to configure one for >£650k. But that does include a Homelink so I can open my hangar door remotely from inside the cockpit. Very important, that.

CRAN 28th Apr 2021 06:18

I've seen their presentations, wheels and HDC are standard. Two axis autopilot is standard also, the four axis version is the optional upgrade. Skids are a no-cost option for those that are prepared to trade off some
cruise speed for better off-airport landing capability.

206 jock 28th Apr 2021 19:22


Originally Posted by CRAN (Post 11035067)
I've seen their presentations, HDC standard. .

Not according to their online configurator. I am sure the sands are shifting.

Anyway I don't care, I won't be buying but following with interest.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....88ec2f1808.jpg

CRAN 28th Apr 2021 20:26

Click on the 'i' next to the item, it explains what's additional in 'Advanced' digital cockpit over the 'standard' one.

if you ask me, you don't need any of it, the standard HDC is fine for a VFR helicopter.

Mee3 29th Apr 2021 04:44

cheap and certification does not gel. But obviously kit flyer does not value certification as priority. I still have not figure out how does a five seater can get away without certification.

Notwithstanding certification is the largest obstacle for avionic to be up to date, that's another story of its own. But as Hill himself compared lux car to aircraft, similarly lux car is also not comparable to updates received for a device. Neither the scale of market nor the replacement cycle puts these 3 categories comparable.

It all depends on how many people buy into this dream. If Hill gets the number then one or two major updates in 10 years could be possible if it remains non certified. Otherwise owner will be chasing for bug fix since day one.


CGameProgrammerr 30th Apr 2021 00:42

In the US there are no limitations at all on what aircraft can be experimental; literally anything can. In fact manufacturers have experimental prototypes or testbed aircraft they use for testing the aircraft, or potential changes to it, before certification.


All times are GMT. The time now is 21:32.


Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.