Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

VR Technologies, the developer of the Russian coaxial VRT500 light turbine single helicopter, has been 50 percent share acquired by the UAE’s Tawazun Economic Council, which also signed a letter of intent to purchase 100 of the aircraft collectively valued at $248 million. Tawazun is the UAE defense and security acquisitions authority for the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police.

 


This move is part of a coordinated campaign to ease Western certification of the aircraft and thus widen its commercial appeal. The first part of that strategy emerged last year when VR acquired Italy-based Vertex Aero from the Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG). Vertex holds EASA design organization approval.

 


Under the new ownership structure, VR will now be owned by Singapore-based Aeroter, along with Tawazan and another undisclosed entity as joint owners. VR had previously been wholly-owned by Russian Helicopters. As part of its ownership of VR, Tawazun committed $400 million of fresh investment to the enterprise.&nbsp;&nbsp;Currently, EASA certification of the Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW207V-powered VRT500 is expected in 2024. First certification test flights are expected next year.&nbsp;

 


Separately, Aeroter announced&nbsp;an exclusive five-year agreement with Savback Helicopters AB of Sweden to distribute and sell the VRT500 in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

UAE's Tawazun Bolsters VRT500 Helicopter Program

Tawazun takes 50 percent stake in VRT500 helicopter program, orders 100 aircraft. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

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Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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