What a great day for the helicopter world! Vertical Aviation Technologies located in Sanford, Florida has just been given the Type Rating to the S-52 series helicopter. The S-52 was introduced in 1947 and began service with the US Military in 1951
The S-52 was the first US helicopter with all-metal rotor blades. Sikorsky began designing the S-52 in 1945 he prototype S-52, first flown in 1947, was a two-seater and used a 178 horse power engine. The S-52 set several speed and height records in 1948, including 129.6 mph in a two mile flight. 122.75 mph, 1,100 yd circuit, and an absolute height of 21,220 ft. The S-52 could hover out of ground effect up to 9,200 ft. The S-52 was the first helicopter to be flown in a loop, as flown by Harold Thompson.
Vertical Solutions began building the Humming Bird kit back in the 1990s and has been as a kit. As of today the FAA gave Vertical Solutions the Type Rating for the Kit this making it the very first US Helicopter kit to be typed!
The Hummingbird 300L is a four seat single pilot, single engine helicopter that you can buy for about 150 thousand dollars.
Congrats to the company for getting their Type Rating!