Dr Hill's new helicopter

You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.

- Pat Malone

Well he would, wouldn’t he. But this is not just another determined man with a dream−Dr Jason Hill is a master of all the talents, a helicopter aerodynamicist (that’s his PhD) who worked for Westland on the Lynx and the EH101, a businessman who runs his own successful consultancy specialising in finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, stress calculation and other highly specialised engineering services which he sells to nuclear plants, offshore oil installations, aerospace, medical, automotive and defence companies, even public buildings and theme park rides. He knows how to knock up a helicopter, he knows about procurement and manufacturing processes and pitfalls, about certification and marketing, he knows why the automotive industry can build an impeller for $20 while something similar in an aeronautical turbine costs $20,000. Better than that, he understands financing and cash flow, and he’s nobody’s mug.