I think there was a "how it's made" on making turbine blades. Was quite a process. And there are a bunch of them in an engine. Spinning 37,000 rpm at 800 C, those are some crazy exotic parts.

Definitely. I remember the green dye vividly.

Chip-

I have been following the Hill helicopter videos and they are making their own Turbin engine and even their own blades. It’s been an interesting process to make the blades. They print the mold then cast the actual blade. They seem to think they have it figured out.

Mike

I’ll stick with my boring R66 until they get some hours on these. Otherwise it’s beautiful and I want one!

I agree. I think Hill with have some serious growing pains and technical challenges. I have yet to see a new start up bite off this much and do well. So ambitious out if the gate.

But yes I want one also. Haha

Mike

It really reminds me of a helicopter Eclipse jet; the exact same attempt to reinvent the wheel on all facets of the machine. Why not just go with a proven Rolls-Royce engine and Garmin Avionics? But it’s so cool that you are rooting for them to succeed, even though you know that it is an impossible thing to do.

+100. I know the world needs dreamers but people need to learn from the successes and failures of others. They are trying to do too much and are going to go down in flames. Sucks as there is a lot of good there. I really like the small electric motors on the wheels to assist with parking. Genius.

Some things can't be improved.

No one has recently made the wheel any rounder.

It really reminds me of a helicopter Eclipse jet; the exact same attempt to reinvent the wheel on all facets of the machine. Why not just go with a proven Rolls-Royce engine and Garmin Avionics? But it’s so cool that you are rooting for them to succeed, even though you know that it is an impossible thing to do.

You don't even have to look that far. I remember when Williams was a plucky upstart engine maker ready to challenge the whole industry by being the first to make an efficient engine that was the right size for Cessna's new CJ line.

They were successful, and now people complain about them being the 800 lb gorilla.

You don't even have to look that far. I remember when Williams was a plucky upstart engine maker ready to challenge the whole industry by being the first to make an efficient engine that was the right size for Cessna's new CJ line.

They were successful, and now people complain about them being the 800 lb gorilla.

I'm told that's why they went with William-Rolls at first, to gain some credibility.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!

The news stories I read at the time were very pro-Williams and painted them in a David vs Goliath way. I imagine Williams' PR dept was busy writing those stories.

You don't even have to look that far. I remember when Williams was a plucky upstart engine maker ready to challenge the whole industry by being the first to make an efficient engine that was the right size for Cessna's new CJ line.

They were successful, and now people complain about them being the 800 lb gorilla.

There are a lot of potential applications for a low cost 300 HP class turbine engine.

Maybe they should concentrate on that first.

Mike C.