Rotorcraft

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

South Korea Orders S-92+ for Presidential Flights

Large-cabin rotorcraft will be operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force

November 9, 2026

S-92 in South Korea

Unither Shifting Hydrogen Helicopters to Cryogenic Fuel

Converted Robinson R66 would fly manufactured organs to transplant centers

November 6, 2026

Unither Bioelectronics’ hydrogen-electric Robinson R44 Raven II demonstrator flies at Bromont Roland-Désourdy Airport in Quebec.

Leonardo’s Helicopter Orders Rise 28% in 2026

UK military contract drives growth in first nine months of year

November 6, 2026

Black AW189 in flight

DOT Audit Targets FAA Helicopter Air Tour Oversight

Scrutiny centers on aerial photography flight exemptions

Regulations and Government

November 4, 2026

Safari Helicopters Air Tour in Hawaii (Photo: Safari Helicopters)

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

August 24, 2026

Armed Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter at Farnborough Airshow 2026

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance for Future Helicopters

Originally developed for the U.S. military, X2 technology is in search of a new customer.

August 19, 2026

Sikorsky S-97 Raider in flight

UK Joint Aviation Command Chinook Helicopter Flying Display at Farnborough Airshow 2026

Watch the agility of this massive dual-rotor helicopter.

UK Joint Aviation Command Chinook Helicopter at Farnborough Airshow 2026

Flight Training in the LAPD H125 AStar Loft Dynamics Helicopter Simulator

Nearly as good as the real thing, and a lot less expensive.

LAPD H125 Loft Dynamics Simulator

Wisk Opens Vertiport for Autonomous eVTOL Testing

Hollister pad will test GPS-free landings and low-visibility navigation

November 4, 2026

Attendees cut a ribbon at Wisk’s Hollister vertiport

Bell 407 Deliveries Climb as Q3 Revenues Slip 9%

Bell delivered 29 commercial helicopters in Q3, down from 30 a year earlier

October 30, 2026

BELL 407

DTA Logs 30 Reservations for JP1 Hybrid Multicopter

Crewed flight tests are slated to begin in 2027

October 28, 2026

DTA Aircraft JP1 eVTOL in hangar

DTA Pitches Two-seat Hybrid eVTOL

French gyroplane maker brings its JP1 multicopter to NBAA-BACE

October 16, 2026

DTA's two-seat JP1 hybrid eVTOL flies at dusk during uncrewed flight testing in France.

Aero Friedrichshafen Gives Helicopters More Lift in 2027

Expanded helicopter presence spans executive and general aviation

October 15, 2026

Bell helicopter on static display in exhibition hall

Airbus Expands Opportunities for Indigenous Canadians

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies to offer H135 technician training

Training and Workforce

October 12, 2026

Yellow and black H135 in flight, Canadian civil registration

EASA Approves Lithium-ion Main-ship Battery for EC135

TB30 or TB40 weighs up to 19.4 kg less than the original nicad system

Maintenance and Modifications

October 12, 2026

Heli Austria Airbus EC135 helicopter

Aviation Wins with Reversal of Indy Heliport Closure

Plans called for selling the 5.36-acre property to the city of Indianapolis

October 12, 2026

VAI's Cade Clark and Katia Veraza

Leonardo Expands Sesto Calende Flight Sim Production

New building increases capacity for onsite simulator assembly

Training and Workforce

October 11, 2026

Full-flight simulator in building with Leonardo branding on side

Romania Orders 12 SAFE-backed H225M Helicopters

Initial fleet renewal could precede additional 30 domestically assembled units

October 11, 2026

Two H225Ms in flight

Falcon Executive Cleared for Flights at Dubai Helipark

Facility at Al Maktoum International Airport will complement the group’s FBO

October 8, 2026

Dubai Helipark

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location

September 25, 2026

Vertical VX4 prototype being rolled into new hangar

Aero Asset: Twin-engine Helicopter Sales Activity Up

Pricing on heavy twins reached a five-year high in the first half

September 17, 2026

Sikorsky S-92 in flight

Pathfinder Places Loft H125 VR Simulator in Anchorage

With 360-viewing, the device gives pilots a realistic picture of the outside world

Training and Workforce

September 17, 2026

Pathfinder Aviation Airbus AStar helicopter

Louisiana Rotor Pathway Advances Rotorcraft Careers

Program started with Utah and North Dakota

September 17, 2026

Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma helicopter

NBC News Helicopter Crashes in LA, Killing Three

Helicopter was covering a fatal collision between an SUV and bus when it went down

September 16, 2026

Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a press conference near the scene of the crashes on September 15