Rotor Roundup: What’s on the Horizon for Helicopters and eVTOLs?

FLYING looks at the near future of both categories.

Friday, May 17, 2024 at 01:46 PM ET

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The Bell 525 (at right) proposes to bring the first fully digital, fly-by-wire rotorcraft to the civil market. [Courtesy: Bell Helicopter]

Key Takeaways:

The rotorcraft market is experiencing significant evolution, with advancements in both traditional helicopters and the rapidly developing eVTOL/powered-lift aircraft categories.
Bell's 525 is nearing civil certification, set to introduce the first fully digital, fly-by-wire rotorcraft with triple redundancy for enhanced safety and improved fuel efficiency.
Leonardo Helicopters is progressing with its modern AW09 helicopter and the high-speed AW609 tiltrotor, aiming for dual EASA/FAA certification.
The eVTOL sector is dynamic, with multiple companies like Archer, Beta, Overair, and Eve advancing through flight testing and certification stages, while EHang has already achieved CAAC certification and commercial demonstration flights in China.

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The rotorcraft marker has always set itself apart within the general aviation industry, not only because of the different production requirements to develop and manufacture a helicopter versus a fixed-wing aircraft, but also because the category takes a different kind of training and operational environment to attain a commensurate level of safety.

FLYING took the opportunity to see what’s on the horizon in terms of both traditional helicopters and the red-hot powered-lift and eVTOL categories ahead of the Helicopter Association International’s HeliExpo in February at Anaheim, California.