Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome to the 18th HX50 Monthly Update & AMA, streamed live on 27 February 2025 from Hill Helicopters' Production Centre One. In this session, Jason Hill presents a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, focusing on the GT50 engine development, the Digital Cockpit, and progress across the HX50 programme.
Key highlights include a deep dive into the state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities at PC1, showcasing the production of starter generators, high-speed bearings, combustors, turbine blades, and structural components. Jason also details the latest features and improvements to the Digital Cockpit, including the user interface and safety enhancements.
Following the presentation, Jason Hill, Mischa Gelb, and Ruben Dias answer questions from the global community in an AMA session. This segment provides further insights into GT50 engine timelines, autopilot functionality, manufacturing capacity, and more.
For those who missed the live stream, this is the full recording, offering an in-depth look at the current state of the HX50 and GT50 projects.
Discover more ► hillhelicopters.com
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Factory Tour
4:20 - GT50 Engine Development
33:56 - Digital Cockpit
42:48 - Gen 2 Fuselage
44:47 - Programme Milestones
45:12 - Recap
46:05 - AMA Start
47:16 - 4-Axis Auto-pilot
51:06 - Cybersecurity
52:10 - Production Start
53:00 - How long do I have to wait for a HX50?
53:49 - Can we remove the doors?
54:26 - Can I use polarised sunglasses with the Digital Cockpit
55:02 - Financial health of the company
56:55 - Emission monitoring on the GT50 Engine
57:48 - Type qualification for HX50
59:23 - Engine failure redundancies
1:01:03 - Sensorless motor
1:01:42 - Vibration Testing
1:03:00 - How is the certification process going?
1:04:10 - Flight sim for HX50
1:04:26 - Different door design
1:05:23 - Anular Combustor Weight
1:06:40 - Sensor redundancy, automatic error detection and correction
1:07:16 - Engine water-ingestion testing
1:08:05 - Why build a new engine?
1:11:32 - Invest in the company
1:12:26 - Dust and dirt on PC1
1:14:11 - Safety, efficiency and ergonomics
1:16:09 - Is auto pilot standard?
1:17:47 - Scheduled Timeline
1:21:22 - Scaling CNC inventory
1:23:06 - Does in-house production increase completion and safety risks?
1:26:19 - Major risks on the schedule
1:28:26 - Next public event in the US
1:31:58 - Accessibility on the screens
1:32:20 - Digital Cockpit temperature
1:32:44 - Save the videos from the camera feeds
1:35:20 - Testing on critical flight software
1:37:23 - Using AC for continuous time
1:38:34 - Fixed landing gear
1:38:55 - Login with a phone
1:39:20 - Rotor head
1:40:42 - How may engines will you be firing at the same time for testing?
1:41:40 - Flight Levelling System
1:42:35 - Ground resonance on landing
1:43:16 - Projected lead time / production rate
1:45:44 - Rotor maintenance
1:46:46 - Pockets for handheld radio and other stuff
1:47:59 - Engine mount
1:49:24 - Test pilots
1:50:16 - Tracking flight behaviour
1:57:18 - End
Welcome to the 18th HX50 Monthly Update & AMA, streamed live on 27 February 2025 from Hill Helicopters' Production Centre One. In this session, Jason Hill presents a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, focusing on the GT50 engine development, the Digital Cockpit, and progress across the HX50 programme.
Key highlights include a deep dive into the state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities at PC1, showcasing the production of starter generators, high-speed bearings, combustors, turbine blades, and structural components. Jason also details the latest features and improvements to the Digital Cockpit, including the user interface and safety enhancements.
Following the presentation, Jason Hill, Mischa Gelb, and Ruben Dias answer questions from the global community in an AMA session. This segment provides further insights into GT50 engine timelines, autopilot functionality, manufacturing capacity, and more.
For those who missed the live stream, this is the full recording, offering an in-depth look at the current state of the HX50 and GT50 projects.
Discover more ► hillhelicopters.com
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Factory Tour
4:20 - GT50 Engine Development
33:56 - Digital Cockpit
42:48 - Gen 2 Fuselage
44:47 - Programme Milestones
45:12 - Recap
46:05 - AMA Start
47:16 - 4-Axis Auto-pilot
51:06 - Cybersecurity
52:10 - Production Start
53:00 - How long do I have to wait for a HX50?
53:49 - Can we remove the doors?
54:26 - Can I use polarised sunglasses with the Digital Cockpit
55:02 - Financial health of the company
56:55 - Emission monitoring on the GT50 Engine
57:48 - Type qualification for HX50
59:23 - Engine failure redundancies
1:01:03 - Sensorless motor
1:01:42 - Vibration Testing
1:03:00 - How is the certification process going?
1:04:10 - Flight sim for HX50
1:04:26 - Different door design
1:05:23 - Anular Combustor Weight
1:06:40 - Sensor redundancy, automatic error detection and correction
1:07:16 - Engine water-ingestion testing
1:08:05 - Why build a new engine?
1:11:32 - Invest in the company
1:12:26 - Dust and dirt on PC1
1:14:11 - Safety, efficiency and ergonomics
1:16:09 - Is auto pilot standard?
1:17:47 - Scheduled Timeline
1:21:22 - Scaling CNC inventory
1:23:06 - Does in-house production increase completion and safety risks?
1:26:19 - Major risks on the schedule
1:28:26 - Next public event in the US
1:31:58 - Accessibility on the screens
1:32:20 - Digital Cockpit temperature
1:32:44 - Save the videos from the camera feeds
1:35:20 - Testing on critical flight software
1:37:23 - Using AC for continuous time
1:38:34 - Fixed landing gear
1:38:55 - Login with a phone
1:39:20 - Rotor head
1:40:42 - How may engines will you be firing at the same time for testing?
1:41:40 - Flight Levelling System
1:42:35 - Ground resonance on landing
1:43:16 - Projected lead time / production rate
1:45:44 - Rotor maintenance
1:46:46 - Pockets for handheld radio and other stuff
1:47:59 - Engine mount
1:49:24 - Test pilots
1:50:16 - Tracking flight behaviour
1:57:18 - End
