Maximum speed for the Hummingbird helicopter has been raised to 115 knots, or 132 mph, indicated airspeed, according to an early July announcement from Vertical Aviation Technologies.
For those with “the need for speed,” this modification also reduces fuel consumption, engine oil temperature and vibration at the tail rotor, said Brad Clark, president of the company, which is based at Orlando-Sanford International Airport in Florida.
The speed increase was achieved through design of a new upper fairing, he said. “The new fairing is made from composite materials, quiets the cabin and is standard on all Hummingbird kits,” he said.
The Hummingbird, previously FAA certified as a commercial helicopter, currently is sold only in kit form. It is “the only helicopter kit that went through certification engineering and flight testing,” according to Clark. “This is a real advantage over conventional experimental kits,” he added.
The Hummingbird 260L is designed to carry four people 375 miles with its three-blade rotor system, he stated.
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