News

We would like to announce that our new model S-52L helicopter is in the process of being certified in Primary Category. Certification is well along and has taken two years now. The official FAA language for Primary Aircraft Category is defined this way: A primary category aircraft is of simple design and is intended exclusively for pleasure and personal use, flight instruction, and rental. A primary category rotorcraft may be powered by a single, naturally aspirated engine and a 6 pound per square foot main rotor disc loading limitation. A primary category rotorcraft may have a maximum certificated weight of no more than 2700 pounds, and a maximum seating capacity of four. The new model S-52L helicopters meets these requirements. In addition, the certification basis chosen and accepted by the FAA is FAR 27, with later sections of FAR 27 requiring occupant protection, ie. cabin containment, fuel crash worthiness and additional safety seating requirements. This certification basis combined with the perfect safety record of the Hummingbird helicopter will make safety the top selling point especially for the training market. The S-52L has been redesigned ground up in order to meet the latest requirements. The basic design parameters for the S-52L such as airframes, rotor system, transmission and powerplant remain the same, however tail surfaces, fuel system, electrical, instrumentation, interior, and flight controls have been redesigned. The powerplant is the six cylinder 300 h.p. IO-540 derated to 245 h.p. manufactured and supported by Continental Motors, Titan engine division. Safety features include part 27 occupant safety requirements addressing fuel crash worthiness, post crash fires, seat and surrounding structure protection, energy absorbing wheeled landing gear, automatic collective pitch reduction in the event of powerplant/rotor drive failure and no control restrictions with the three blade articulated rotor. Other selling features include roomy four place tandem seating, amazing controllability and handling qualities, automatic rotor/clutch engagement and worldwide customer support. Primary Category also allows the S-52L to be sold as a kit and does not have to meet the 51% rule. This allows us to build more for you the customers. It also allows us to keep selling our standard conventional kit or Quickbuild. We expect to receive the final Type Certification early March 2019. Pricing will be released shortly.