Hill Helicopters is a British helicopter manufacturer based in Staffordshire, England, founded by aerospace engineer Dr Jason Hill. The company is developing the HX50, a five-seat luxury private helicopter designed to bring automotive-grade cabin design and integrated luxury to the personal rotorcraft market, a segment traditionally served by utilitarian designs.
The HX50 is notable for the extent of its vertical integration: Hill is developing the airframe, avionics, and its own GT50 turbine engine in-house, an unusual approach for a new entrant. The helicopter features a carbon-composite fuselage, a glass cockpit with the company's Hill Digital Cockpit, and an interior styled like a luxury car with leather seating, climate control, and luggage capacity for touring. The aircraft is offered initially as the owner-flown HX50 in the experimental/amateur-built category, with a certified variant, the HC50, planned to follow.
The company reports an order book of well over a thousand aircraft from private buyers worldwide, reflecting demand for a purpose-designed luxury personal helicopter at a price point around 649,000 pounds. Production facilities are being established in Staffordshire, with first deliveries to follow completion of the development and flight-test program.
Sales are made directly by the factory, with buyers configuring their aircraft through the company's online configurator and deposit program.