8 Exciting New Concept Helicopters Worth Waiting For
It’s always exciting to think about what the future has in store, and the aviation industry is no exception. Any time we see a cool new helicopter concept, it’s hard not to imagine one day getting behind those state-of-the-art controls and taking to the skies.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of really innovative ideas for helicopter concept design from some of the biggest names in rotorcraft manufacturing, as well as some newer upstarts in the Future Vertical Lift industry. We even saw some of those ideas begin to take shape at this past year’s HAI Heli-Expo (now Verticon) in Anaheim, California.
Before we explore these futuristic helicopters, however, let’s quickly cover some of the common terms and acronyms being tossed around in the VTOL industry.
Modern Heli Design Glossary
- VTOL: Vertical Takeoff and Landing
- eVTOL: Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing
- STOL: Short Takeoff and Landing
- PAV: Personal Aerial Vehicle
- AAM: Advanced Air Mobility
- FVL: Future Vertical Lift
- UAM: Urban Air Mobility
- EVA: Electric Vertical Aircraft
- FARA: Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft
Now that you’re all caught up to speed, here are the eight new concept helicopters that have us most excited for the future of flight.
1. JETSON ONE CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Jetson
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: Light eVTOL
- Capacity: 1 pilot
- Top Speed: 63 mph (102 kph)
- Flight Time: Approx. 20 min
- Total Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Dimensions: 98 x 59 x 41 in (248 x 150 x 103 cm)
Unique Features:
- Racecar-inspired safety frame
- Hands-free hover and emergency functions
- Can fly safely with the loss of one motor
- Redundant battery propulsion system
- Ballistic parachute with rapid deployment
- Lidar sensor-driven auto landing system
Availability:
- Price Tag: $128,000
- Current Status: In production
- Estimated Delivery: 2026—Order your Jetson One today!
Billed as the first affordable eVTOL on the market, the Jetson One is designed to revolutionize personal aviation as we know it. At the heart of the Jetson One lies its unique flight computer, which makes flying exceptionally easy for pilots of all skill levels. With intuitive controls, your left hand governs altitude while the right directs the aircraft’s movement, allowing anyone to become a proficient pilot in less than five minutes. The best part is that no pilot’s license is required to operate it in the United States, making the Jetson One accessible to enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
With its sleek and futuristic heli design, the Jetson One embodies the spirit of a Formula One racing car for the sky. Crafted from lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber, this aerial marvel is stunning to behold and incredibly fun to fly. Equipped with eight powerful motors, each driving an equal number of propellers, the Jetson One’s propulsion system boasts a massive power output, ensuring effortless and exhilarating flight experiences. Whether you’re commuting to work or exploring new horizons, the Jetson One delivers unmatched performance and agility in the skies.
2. PIVOTAL HELIX CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Pivotal
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: Light eVTOL
- Capacity: 1 pilot
- Top Speed: 63 mph (102 kph)
- Max Range: 20 mi (32 km)
- Total Weight: 254 lbs (116 kg)
- Dimensions: 179 x 176 x 64 in (455 x 447 x 163 cm)
Unique Features:
- Entire aircraft tilts to transition between hover and cruise
- Triple redundant flight control system
- Auto-takeoff and auto-land features
- Intuitive left and right-handed joysticks
- Amphibious hull and floats for emergency landing
- Whole-aircraft ballistic parachute system
Availability:
- Price Tag: $190,000 – $260,000
- Current Status: In production
- Estimated Delivery: June 10, 2024—Order your Pivotal Helix today!
Over twelve years in the making, the Helix is Pivotal’s first aircraft to be produced at scale, representing a significant leap forward in single-seat PAV (Personal Aerial Vehicle). Designed to bring the wonder of flight to anyone with a spirit of adventure, the Helix offers higher performance, greater ease of flight, and enhanced dependability compared to its predecessor, the BlackFly.
At the heart of the Helix’s design is its unique tilting mechanism, which allows the entire aircraft to transition seamlessly between hover and cruise modes. This groundbreaking feature not only enhances performance but also offers unparalleled agility and maneuverability in the air. In addition, the Helix can be easily collapsed down to fit inside a 16-foot trailer for convenient transport, allowing pilots to take their adventure to new heights wherever they go. Whether you’re exploring urban landscapes or soaring over scenic vistas, the Helix delivers an unforgettable flying experience.
3. DORONI H1-X CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Doroni Aerospace
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: eVTOL
- Capacity: 2 persons (1 pilot & 1 passenger)
- Top Speed: 120 mph (194 kph)
- Flight Time: Approx. 40 min
- Max Range: 60 mi (97 km)
- Total Weight: 1,350 lbs (613 kg)
Unique Features:
- 270° windows for panoramic in-flight immersion
- Ducted fans for silky smooth liftoffs and enhanced noise reduction
- A cozy dual-passenger cockpit with extended cargo capacity
- Tandem wings for aerodynamic precision
- Semi-autonomous navigation for effortless vertical takeoffs
- 360° safety sensors and fail-safes for smooth flights in any conditions
Availability:
- Price Tag: $350,000
- Current Status: In production
- Estimated Delivery: 2026—Order your Doroni H1-X today!
Doroni Aerospace’s latest innovation, the H1-X, represents a significant leap forward in eVTOL technology. Equipped with coaxial ducted fans and pusher props, the H1-X is designed to achieve impressive cruise speeds of up to 120 mph (200 km/h) for up to 40 minutes. Its ducted fans offer superior noise suppression compared to traditional open props, reducing disturbances to bystanders and enhancing the overall flying experience.
Designed for ease of use, the H1-X is equipped with automated controls, including push-button takeoff and landing, and a ballistic parachute for emergency situations. As one of the largest VTOLs on this list, the H1-X can maintain a payload capacity of 500 lb (200 kg) between the pilot and passenger seats, along with additional luggage space. Featuring 270° panoramic windows, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in the beauty of the world below. Whether soaring through the skies or navigating bustling cityscapes, the H1-X delivers unmatched performance and safety, making it the ultimate choice for modern aviation enthusiasts.
4. ASKA™ A5 CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: ASKA™
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: Electric hybrid VTOL
- Capacity: 4 persons (1 pilot & 3 passengers)
- Top Speed: 150 mph (242 kph)
- Max Range: 250 mi (402 km)
Unique Features:
- Revolutionary folding rotor design
- Equipped with a dual-power electric hybrid engine
- Designed for certification as a street-legal eVTOL
- Revolutionary in-wheel motor technology
- Built-in ballistic parachute for added safety
- Customizable interior & exterior design
Availability:
- Price Tag: $789,000
- Current Status: In production
- Estimated Delivery: 2026—Order your ASKA™ A5 today!
Like something out of The Jetsons, the ASKA™ A5 is touted as the world’s first consumer drive-and-fly eVTOL vehicle. The brainchild of American-Israeli startup NFT Inc. (no, not those NFTs—it’s short for Next Future Transportation), this hybrid aircraft looks to revolutionize both the aerospace and automotive industries with its ability to offer a seamless on-the-road and in-the-air experience. By combining the best features of a rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, the A5 offers both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities.
ASKA’s cutting-edge electric hybrid power system is equipped with both batteries and an engine, providing an extended flight range of up to 250 miles. In drive mode, it’s roughly the size of a large SUV, with initial models hoping to obtain highway certification by reaching speeds of over 70 mph on the road. The interior comfortably seats up to four passengers and is designed with the highest level of safety in mind. It even comes equipped with a ballistic parachute for use in cases of emergency.
5. HILL HX50 CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Hill Helicopters
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: Single Rotor Helicopter
- Capacity: 5 persons
- Top Speed: 160 mph (260 kph)
- Max Range: 805 mi (1,296 km)
- Total Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
Unique Features:
- Fully customizable to fit the needs of any pilot
- Your choice of landing gear
- A spacious luggage compartment
- Surround-style glass for unobstructed, panoramic views
- Retractable blades for efficient storage
- Full iPad integration for simplified control
Availability:
- Price Tag: Starting at $646,000
- Current Status: In production
- Estimated Delivery: TBA—Configure your Hill HX50 today!
Founded by Dr. Jason Hill, an engineer and avid helicopter pilot, Hill Helicopters is a British firm with a rather lofty objective in mind: Establishing “the world’s first completely ground-up helicopter since the invention of rotorcraft flight.” While most helicopter manufacturers promise a “fully customizable” aircraft, that typically means you get to select the exterior color scheme and interior seating arrangement—and not much else. This is far from the case with the HX50, which promises to invite pilots to its facility to help complete 51% of the build themselves—under the direct supervision of a team of engineers and specialists, of course.
Featuring a bespoke GT50 turbine engine at its core, the HX50 has a real embarrassment of riches when it comes to its number of options. Of course, the exterior paint job is entirely negotiable, and adding child seats to the five-passenger cabin is fair game. Another key decision to make is in the landing gear, where you can choose between retractable wheels for better on-the-ground and in-air maneuverability or a fixed skid system for landing in more remote locations with rugged terrain.
6. BELL FCX-001 CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Bell Helicopters
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: Single Rotor Helicopter
- Capacity: 12 persons
Unique Features:
- Hybridized propulsion
- Advanced anti-torque systems
- Morphing rotor blade tips
- A virtual cockpit
- Advanced landing gear
- Enhanced cabin design
Availability:
- Price Tag: Unknown
- Current Status: Concept
- Estimated Delivery: TBA
The FCX-001 combines Bell’s history of innovation with a pioneering vision of the future of rotorcraft. In fact, this helicopter concept doesn’t have a tail rotor at all, a feature whose inclusion has been debated recently in many helicopter pilot circles. Multiple fans are integrated within the tail boom to provide anti-torque, which is powered by a thermal/electric hybridized propulsion system. The vented system allows for thrust in any direction and includes a thrust vector control, making it capable of forgoing a traditional horizontal stabilizer.
The extensive use of glass on the fuselage makes the FCX-001 look like something straight out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. The widened cabin—which can seat up to 12 passengers and crew—has a honeycomb of drop-down control modules built into the ceiling to allow for maximum personalization and comfort. The modules are intended to allow passengers to change various settings, such as their lighting, temperature, and infotainment experience.
7. SIKORSKY RAIDER X® CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
Tech Specs:
- Aircraft Type: FARA Compound Helicopter
- Capacity: 2 persons
- Top Speed: 290 mph (460 kph)
- Total Weight: 14,000 lb (6,400 kg)
Unique Features:
- Revolutionary coaxial rotor system for exceptional agility and stability
- Pusher propeller for enhanced forward speed and cruise efficiency
- Open systems architecture for seamless integration with current and future technologies
- Advanced avionics for real-time threat detection and response capabilities
- Modular payload system to accommodate a wide array of armaments and equipment
- Retractable landing gear for easy deployment and operation in a variety of terrains
Availability:
- Price Tag: Unknown
- Current Status: Cancelled
- Estimated Delivery: TBA
The Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) Raider X helicopter concept is a cutting-edge aircraft designed to redefine the future of military aviation. At its core, the Raider X leverages a revolutionary coaxial rotor system paired with a pusher propeller, allowing for unparalleled agility and speed. This advanced propulsion system enables the Raider X to achieve cruise speeds exceeding 250 knots, significantly faster than modern helicopters. The design enhances the helicopter’s maneuverability, making it exceptionally adept at operating in complex and contested environments. The aircraft’s compact size and retractable landing gear allow for easy deployment in diverse terrains, from dense urban landscapes to rugged, remote locations.
In addition to its impressive performance capabilities, the Raider X is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and mission systems that provide a significant tactical advantage. Its open systems architecture ensures seamless integration with current and future technologies, offering unmatched flexibility and adaptability for various mission profiles. The Raider X also features a modular payload system, allowing it to carry a wide array of armaments and specialized equipment tailored to specific mission requirements. This versatility, combined with its speed and agility, positions the Raider X as a game-changer in the realm of reconnaissance and attack helicopters, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of modern military forces.
8. TESLA MODEL H CONCEPT HELICOPTER
Image credit: Antonio Paglia Design
Unique Features:
- Fully electric propulsion
- Sleek & futuristic exoskeleton design
- Four mini rotors for increased stability
- Retractable landing gear
- Autonomous flight capability
Availability:
- Price Tag: Unknown
- Current Status: Concept
- Estimated Delivery: TBA
It was only a matter of time before a Tesla helicopter concept took the internet by storm. This aptly named Model H (you can probably guess what the ‘H’ stands for) was designed by Antonio Paglia, an architect and designer who hails from Milano, Italy, one of the fashion capitals of the world. And, judging by this concept’s unique stylings, sleek lines, and familiar color scheme, he’s obviously a big fan of Marvel’s Iron Man.
It should come as no surprise that the Model H is a fully electric aircraft, considering Tesla and its headline-grabbing CEO, Elon Musk, refuse to make anything that burns fossil fuels. The front exoskeleton contains four mini rotors for added stability and maneuverability, seemingly taking inspiration from smaller unmanned drones. Unfortunately, the battery technology to power an aircraft of this size is still at least 3 to 4 years away, so for the time being, this Tesla helicopter concept will have to remain just that—a concept.
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Want to see more awe-inspiring modern helicopters? Check out our list of the top 5 luxury helicopters that would be a dream to own.