Hill's HX50 Personal Helicopter Is Finally Here! Take a Look at the Wonder They Pulled Off

Calling the HX50 the first truly private chopper is a rather bold statement in an industry already dominated by helicopter manufacturers from Russia to the US. But that doesn't even matter; the HX50 comes across as the sort of machine that folks like you and me can afford, especially if you split the bill five-way (the number of passengers that can be accommodated during a flight). Time to see what's in store for the price of some motorhomes.

To fully grasp the idea behind the HX50, we first need to understand what it is that Hill is trying to achieve here. According to the Founder and Chief Engineer of this brand, Jason Hill, the HX50 came about from a need for a helicopter that would maintain its value, perform with flying colors, expand the idea of what the industry is capable of, and, above all, won't burn a massive hole in your pocket to do so.

As a result, Hill Helicopters aimed to create a personal and recreational helicopter that's light, can travel at speeds upwards of 140 knots (161 mph), and can achieve a max range of up to 700 nautical miles. All that is supposed to also start at around $759K or £595K, which comes across as a very decent rate for your very own chopper, wouldn't you think?

But there's something else that makes the HX50 so dang special: every inch of this machine is designed by Hill alone, including their GT50 turboshaft engine. Even putting the mono-fuselage together is done in-house.

The world first got news of this machine back in 2020, and since then, development has been marked with a lineup of vlogs and blogs showing the world precisely what's happening with this helicopter. If you ever make it to the manufacturer's website, be sure to browse all the little milestones that Hill has put together for us.

In them, we're able to trace the steps, starting with the dream all the way up to where the crew is now. Currently, Hill completed Airframe 7, the final version in which all their R&D and newly developed components come together in harmony.

But what's been developed? Well, I already mentioned that this is a recreational chopper, but one that's chock-full of technology and luxury. Oh, and it's all aimed at a seamless and immersive experience for the passengers and pilots alike.

Starting with this vehicle's body, it's been designed to not only offer incredible visibility to those on board but its shape and abilities have been streamlined not only for capability but customizability too, an aspect that's essential to anyone looking to dish out some cash on such a prized possession.

This customization extends even as far as you being able to choose the sort of landing gear configuration you need, be it wheeled or built around skids. Be careful what you choose, as you'll also be affecting top speed in the process. Looking to switch up the interior to better suit your color tone needs? Go for it.

Speaking of the interior, let's hop inside and see what Hill has planned for its future customers. At this stage, whether or not you have a pilot's license will dictate if you're sitting in the front row or in the back. Suppose you're lucky enough to be sitting in the cockpit. In that case, you'll be embraced by state-of-the-art navigation systems, Nappa leather, Alcantara trim, and brushed semiprecious metals; the back seats aren't that bad, either.

Personally, I've always loved and been amazed at how the interiors of helicopters and other flying machines are crafted, and upon seeing the cabin of the HX50, I fell in love. If Hill manages to stay true to the renderings they depict, these puppies should be flying off the billionaire shelves.

As for some of this beauty's abilities, Hill has integrated a rear pass-through storage bay for things like skis, snowboards, or other toys you may want to bring along on your yacht, and once you finally get there, fold the blades and store the HX50 in a space smaller than needed by the other guys.

Now, I understand that it can be rather difficult to understand exactly what Hill is aiming for here, so to help you along, place yourself in the center of all that you witnessed in the image gallery and check in with the manufacturer's website to dive even deeper into what could very well be one of the hottest personal helicopters around.

Or, you could just give Hill a call and go see the finished prototype. Everything has been moving along according to plan, and if the next stages unfold as they should, we'll be seeing these babies flying around ritzy neighborhoods in early 2024. Wondering what to do with three-quarters of a million dollars? Buy a dang helicopter!