Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In this video I travel to Tatenhill (England) in my PA28 Arrow, to meet Jason Hill, a pilot and engineer, doing what no-one's done for more than 60 years. He's building a new single-engine helicopter in the UK and he's taken more than 1400 orders even though it hasn't even flown a single flight yet. That's impressive and probably makes it one of the best-selling helicopters in the world in recent years, if not THE best-selling helicopter.
Jason is trying to build the helicopter of his dreams. The HX50 is inspired by the helicopter in the hit 1980s US TV series, 'Airwolf!', of which he was a fan (who wasn't?). It seems that there are plenty of people who also believe in his design and ownership concept, after all, they've parted with a non-refundable deposit for the stunning looking machine and seem tolerant (for now at least) with the project's slipping production timeline. The video takes you through the whole story.
I know my audience consists mainly of fixed wing pilots - (proper pilots of course!) - but Hill's ambition is to bring a revolution to all of GA, not just the rotary sector and so his concept is worth listening to. But if you don't give a twig about helicopters, or saving GA's future, then at least you can enjoy a nice flight above the beautiful cloud layer from Suffolk to Staffordshire.
I make inspirational videos about my flying adventures around the UK and Europe. I have a dream too, to one day fly my PA28 across the atlantic to the USA. Subscribe to my channel for more inspirational flying vlogs and honest post-flight debrief videos.
About me/Corporate video services: jonhunt.net
Bonus content on Patreon: patreon.com/join/theflyingreporter
Facebook: facebook.com/theflyingreporter
Instagram: instagram.com/flyingreporteruk
My channel advertisers and sponsors
Aero Anglia - A light aircraft maintenance organisation at Elmsett in Suffolk.
aeroanglia.com
Aerobytes - Aerobytes provide Flight Data Monitoring services to the airlines.
aerobytes.co.uk
AOPA UK - securing our freedom to fly - Get 25% off your membership here.
aopa.co.uk/flying-reporter-discount-membership-offer
Anglian Flight Centres - Train for your PPL/CBIR/IMC/NIGHT
anglianflightcentres.co.uk
CloudbaseGA - Flight logging and share/syndicate management
https://www.cloudbasega.aero/
Norvic Aero Engines - Engine overhaul services
norvic.com
Proptech - Propeller overhaul/governor overhaul/dynamic prop balancing
https://proptech.aero/
Vertigo Covers - lightweight, affordable, weatherproof aircraft covers.
vertigocovers.co.uk
#generalaviation #flying #privatepilot #pilot #atc #airtrafficcontrol #aviation #pa28 #flight #debrief #travel #helicopter #hx50
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Starting up and taxi
01:07 Take off, Elmsett, EGST
02:43 Climbing on top of the cloud
04:10 The purpose of the flight
05:47 Paid promo - Proptech
06:36 Commencing descent
07:48 Landing
08:19 Heli-taxi to the Hill factory
09:05 The HX 50, specs.
11:31 Affordability
13:20 Cutting out the middle men
15:21 Wider potential impacts on GA
16:36 Demand
17:14 Will it ever fly?
In this video I travel to Tatenhill (England) in my PA28 Arrow, to meet Jason Hill, a pilot and engineer, doing what no-one's done for more than 60 years. He's building a new single-engine helicopter in the UK and he's taken more than 1400 orders even though it hasn't even flown a single flight yet. That's impressive and probably makes it one of the best-selling helicopters in the world in recent years, if not THE best-selling helicopter.
Jason is trying to build the helicopter of his dreams. The HX50 is inspired by the helicopter in the hit 1980s US TV series, 'Airwolf!', of which he was a fan (who wasn't?). It seems that there are plenty of people who also believe in his design and ownership concept, after all, they've parted with a non-refundable deposit for the stunning looking machine and seem tolerant (for now at least) with the project's slipping production timeline. The video takes you through the whole story.
I know my audience consists mainly of fixed wing pilots - (proper pilots of course!) - but Hill's ambition is to bring a revolution to all of GA, not just the rotary sector and so his concept is worth listening to. But if you don't give a twig about helicopters, or saving GA's future, then at least you can enjoy a nice flight above the beautiful cloud layer from Suffolk to Staffordshire.
I make inspirational videos about my flying adventures around the UK and Europe. I have a dream too, to one day fly my PA28 across the atlantic to the USA. Subscribe to my channel for more inspirational flying vlogs and honest post-flight debrief videos.
About me/Corporate video services: jonhunt.net
Bonus content on Patreon: patreon.com/join/theflyingreporter
Facebook: facebook.com/theflyingreporter
Instagram: instagram.com/flyingreporteruk
My channel advertisers and sponsors
Aero Anglia - A light aircraft maintenance organisation at Elmsett in Suffolk.
aeroanglia.com
Aerobytes - Aerobytes provide Flight Data Monitoring services to the airlines.
aerobytes.co.uk
AOPA UK - securing our freedom to fly - Get 25% off your membership here.
aopa.co.uk/flying-reporter-discount-membership-offer
Anglian Flight Centres - Train for your PPL/CBIR/IMC/NIGHT
anglianflightcentres.co.uk
CloudbaseGA - Flight logging and share/syndicate management
https://www.cloudbasega.aero/
Norvic Aero Engines - Engine overhaul services
norvic.com
Proptech - Propeller overhaul/governor overhaul/dynamic prop balancing
https://proptech.aero/
Vertigo Covers - lightweight, affordable, weatherproof aircraft covers.
vertigocovers.co.uk
#generalaviation #flying #privatepilot #pilot #atc #airtrafficcontrol #aviation #pa28 #flight #debrief #travel #helicopter #hx50
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Starting up and taxi
01:07 Take off, Elmsett, EGST
02:43 Climbing on top of the cloud
04:10 The purpose of the flight
05:47 Paid promo - Proptech
06:36 Commencing descent
07:48 Landing
08:19 Heli-taxi to the Hill factory
09:05 The HX 50, specs.
11:31 Affordability
13:20 Cutting out the middle men
15:21 Wider potential impacts on GA
16:36 Demand
17:14 Will it ever fly?
