HX50 Monthly Update & AMA - 5 December 2024

[@THEKITPLUG]

Your ability to consistently showcase the progress and technology that goes into this build in such an elegant and exciting way is equally as impressive as the product you are making. This is an absolute masterclass on how to run a startup.

[@jomansur]

Huge respect for Jason Hill and his team for this incredible achievement to date. As an engineer previously involved with helicopters, the depth and breadth of his knowledge simply unbelievable. The combination of technical knowledge, management expertise and the capacity to understand the cost and value implications of all of this to make an financially viable project is truly extraordinary.

[@georgepaschalis365]

Good job Hill! Keep at it. I wish all engineering organisations were ran like this.

[@hubschenk1652]

I just hope that this helicopter is not just a very nice model to generate capital and possibly never flies. So many presentations and never a recording of a Hill Heli flying.

[@georgepaschalis365]

@@hubschenk1652 I have a lot of faith in Jason. Give him a bit more time. :)

[@egreens138]

As an entrepreneur 45 years , producing seven figure enterprises from thought alone this presentation of process from back of napkin to 100% vertically produced aircraft openly "lifts" everyone's mind. "for once ones mind expand with new thought it will not retract " paraphrasing OW Holmes - Congratulations and thank you for sharing the espirit de corps , the future of GA for little and big wings alike, Salutes. from on Wisconsin near Oshkosh .

[@hubschenk1652]

I just hope that this helicopter is not just a very nice model to generate capital and possibly never flies. So many presentations and never a recording of a Hill Heli flying.

[@rameshagrawal435]

Appreciate n very high regards for This man who has in depths knowledge of each n every pc of parts being developed and used in this dream machine , I don’t think I body in this industry would have this level of knowledge and understanding about helicopter. Hats off to him

[@PawełBytnar]

This is the most impressive undertaking that I have seen in my whole carrier in aerospace. Ambitious goals, in-depth level on knowledge coming straight from the top, commitment to the timeframes communicated to the customers, beautiful design, clever, clear and consistent communication. I love the vertical integration, something that I was always pushing working in aerospace sector and something that it is so hard to do. Keep going guys and I’m sure that soon we will see your helicopter in the sky. Best wishes to the team and congratulations for all of the milestones achieved so far.

[@johanboes1]

So much respect for you all !

[@spdcrzy]

YAAAYYYYYY :D just in time for the end of the workday!

[@Mattys556]

I am working like crazy to get to the point where I can put down a deposit on one of these... getting close. Been following you guys since your funding rounds..

[@yama-fanboy]

still won't get delivery before 2028 bro relax take your time the waiting list is lengthy lol

[@Mattys556]

@yama-fanboy challenge accepted 😎

[@MikeKisil]

Listen to the way this man bangs off answers Assures one self someone does know the build thoroughly That is real as it gets .

[@johanboes1]

So much respect!

[@111haY]

Gentlemen, respect! and health!

[@timperry7530]

I love the design but one thing that concerns me is the control cables going up through the windscreen divider. I just thinking bird strike and the potential of losing complete control.

[@theocoelho]

Its just the same with many other helicopters such as H135, H145 and so forth. and birdstrikes happened to them. theres always engineering possible to predict and mitigate those risks. I am worried about other stuff lol

[@hexforce4982]

Can’t wait to fly one of these

[@rowshambow]

No test flight video still

[@dogsnads5634]

Given that they've just said the first flight won't be until Q4 2025 thats not really a surprise though is it....

[@WarbirdFan72]

Once certified, will there be a "Utility" version, say for camera mounts etc..?? If so what is anticipated "useful load" ?

[@justinsearle4461]

Jason has said in the past that there will be an HC50 utility version at some point. I don't think the loads will be much different than the base model.

[@PetesGuide]

You should collaborate with Best Tugs for the skid model tow cart.

[@RealRickCox]

Mark and Mike are the BEST guys and I'm proud to have them as neighbors. They do so much for Utah and the aviation community.

[@JushuaAbraham-sj2xl]

A fully articulated or hingeless rotorhead system?

[@RealRickCox]

My recollection is that this is a fully articulated rotor.

[@rbbrooke]

What is the contractual end price and first payment?

[@ianmutch1370]

Fantastic 👏 I am a machineist cnc , retired 08, very nice vertical lathe center, and machine center. Will in the future will there be a 10 seater size,with power take offs hydrolics.Twin turbines with taulk converters.

[@edmilsontombidelima9911]

Parabéns muitas felicidades

[@PetesGuide]

I see two errors in your cockpit display at 27:16 . One is the use of GMT. This is a UK-only time zone, and only for part of the year. The planet switched from GMT to UTC for universal time in 1972. Also, there should be a space between the temperature digits and the degree symbol, as per the metric/SI rules for units.

[@theocoelho]

GMT and UTC means the same, all are related to greenwish, where the time zone "0" is located. anything to the left of it goes subtracted -1 to -11h and anything to the right of it adds +1 to +/-12hs. its not that hard to figure out! its an universal/international conventionized standard for more than a century.

[@PetesGuide]

@ Incorrect. GMT and UTC have had different meanings since 1972. If the engineers missed this detail, I wonder what other details they missed because they didn’t read specifications or standards.

[@roryblake3232]

Thanks. I am sure Dr Hill needs that input.

[@roryblake3232]

@@PetesGuide Wow, what a pedant.

[@theocoelho]

@@PetesGuide Is GMT the same as UTC? By international convention, UTC is equivalent to GMT, however their measurements differ: GMT is measured from midday, whereas UTC is measured from midnight. UTC is the legal basis of time in the world.

[@sccolbert]

Is that 10,000 lbs of raw material (mass), or 10,000 GBP of raw material (money)? Asking as someone who measures things in a base 12 system.

[@jomansur]

GBP

[@bertruttan129]

Do u take Bitcoin in payment?

[@theocoelho]

they do

[@JohannNorris]

Where’s my friend Misha? Hey neighbor.

[@gamedevai]

Is it a liquid moving rotor damper system I just invented.?..........😁...................🚁rotorrotor

[@hubschenk1652]

Has this HILL helicopter ever flown? 🤨

[@jomansur]

No, they have said multiple times it's in development. First flight targeted Dec 2025.

[@RealRickCox]

@@jomansur You're correct. We won't see this flying for another 12 months. I'm curious when the first deliveries will take place.

[@chippyjohn1]

Its seems strange when he talks about components such as the engine being reliable when they havent built one yet.

[@jomansur]

Aviation is fundamentally different to other industries in that is is not mass production. Everything is extremely carefully designed, tested, certified and monitored through the maintenance program to ensure that any deviations from intended operation are identified and fixed before becoming a problem. Maintenance programs have to be designed with the reliability accurately forecasted and tested. In addition, the tools available today simply weren't around when current aircraft were designed- CAD, Finite Element, Computational Fluid Dynamics software etc. With all these and in the hands of outstanding designers and managers (which Jason clearly is), the iterative design process can be dramatically speeded up . Most of the issues which earlier designers had to contend with can be weeded out far earlier in the process. In addition, they are using existing proven tech, not new unproven tech, and making a highly optimised design for its intended purpose. Extremely clever.

[@chippyjohn1]

@jomansur And you think that large companies do not have technology? Even these large companies have issues. The fuel economy they predict is nothing spectacular, it's 40% more than a modern diesel engine. They claim to have presold 1200 helicopters. Airbus with 30k employees only produces about 300 a year. How is this company going to be able to produce even 30 a year with 12 employees. Do you think customers will be happy waiting up to 40 years for their helicopter? Think about that.

[@jomansur]

@@chippyjohn1 "And you think that large companies do not have technology? Even these large companies have issues." The last "large company" to make this size of Heli was Bell with the 505. Nothing really new there, engine and MGB from the venerable 206. Seemed a rather cynical attempt. Before that was the Eurocopter EC120 B which has since stopped production for a number of reasons including spiralling costs (for reasons Jason mentioned) and a rather limited main gearbox. The R44 was a brilliant design created before these tools and the R66 has been constrained by having the 44 as its base. It is very clear from following this project that Jason Hill's breadth and depth of knowledge and experience is incredible and this will be key to the success of the project. Bigger teams don't often translate to well managed resources, especially with non-technical people calling the shots. Witness Boeing as an example.

[@chippyjohn1]

@jomansur The R44 is a terrible design. And I agree large companies have issues even with their extensive resources, thus is not to say a small company does not or will not have issues. They claim they will be able to produce 500 per year, they will need to become much larger to achieve that. Finding skilled workers is not easy. Claiming customers will be able to attend the facility and build a helicopter in just two weeks is very unrealistic. I wish them well, but he appears more of a smooth talker than realist. On the other hand I too am manufacturing a helicopter and receive much doubt, so I understand.

[@jomansur]

@@chippyjohn1 "How is this company going to be able to produce even 30 a year with 12 employees." He has made it very clear that once the aircraft is certified, they will scale up production with a much larger facility than PC1 which would likely max out at less than 100 aircraft per year (of course with more people). Presumably they would aim for about 400-600 aircraft a year production in these larger facilities which would bring down waiting times more in line with industry norms. Fuel consumption is highly predictable with this type of turbine engine and nowhere near a main cost driver for ownership which would be production costs, DMC, reliability and Turnaround times on scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, especially in the context of private aviation where this is aimed. For many markets outside the US, Avgas for pistons can be 3-5x more expensive than Jet A1 which offsets a lot of the fuel costs compared to pistons. As an engineer, having worked for Eurocopter (now Airbus) selling their helis, I concur with Jason's insights but do find this a daunting challenge. Following the project and progress to date, my sentiment has changed from scepticism to being deeply impressed and I really hope the team are successful.

[@baumar862]

Ohh I’m buying one!!