Verticon 2026

The newest entrant to Norway’s offshore helicopter market is ramping up fleet expansion as it prepares for a full schedule of offshore flying from early 2027.

Growing range requirements and rising energy prices could revive demand for Airbus H225 and Sikorsky S-92 aircraft, complicating the Bell 525’s market entry.

Robinson Helicopter is growing its business with new uncrewed aircraft, military training bids and development of a larger utility helicopter.

Two new entrants—the Guimbal G5 and MD Helicopters MD564—aim to challenge established players in the competitive light helicopter market.

Editors are joined in Atlanta by vertical flight veteran Mike Hirschberg to discuss the highlights of this year's Verticon rotorcraft expo.

Airbus, Bell and Leonardo have recorded orders for 26 helicopters during this year’s Verticon rotorcraft exhibition in Atlanta.

Electric propulsion provider MagniX is preparing a power system for flight tests later this year in a modified Robinson Helicopter Corporation R66.

Safran’s Aneto engine has been selected to power new-build and refurbished Bell 214ST Super Transporter helicopters.

GE Aerospace has said it is moving into a new phase in its joint research with Airbus Helicopters into next-generation rotorcraft engines.

Robinson Helicopter Company plans to equip future helicopters and much of its existing fleet with Crewchief Systems digital aircraft management software.

StandardAero has been selected by Robinson Helicopter Company as the preferred MRO provider for Rolls-Royce RR300 engines powering the Robinson R66 fleet.

Hybrid-electric aircraft developer Electra.aero held a familiarization meeting with the FAA earlier this month, marking another step toward Part 23 type certification of the company’s nine-seat EL9 ultra-STOL aircraft.

Korea Aerospace Industries has made its debut appearance at Verticon as it seeks new sales opportunities for its KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter.

MD Helicopters is close to finalizing a sale of the type certificate for the MD Explorer twin-engine light helicopter.

MD Helicopters has lifted the veil on a new variant of its famed 500 series of single-engine light helicopters.

Major French rotorcraft manufacturer Helicopteres Guimbal is set to grow its product portfolio with the development of a five-seat turbine helicopter.

The new French five-seat helicopter is targeting a light turbine segment dominated by the Robinson R66 and Bell 505.

Robinson Helicopter Company unveiled a ruggedized interior configuration for its R44 helicopter at Verticon 2026.

Airbus Helicopters hints at potential local assembly of its H175 super-medium rotorcraft in Canada if the aircraft is selected to meet emerging Canadian needs.

Bell officials say they are confident in their proposal to make the company’s 505 JetRanger X the Army’s next rotary-wing training helicopter.

Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive has agreed to a general certification plan for its three-seater SD-05 with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.

Bell is starting assembly of the fuselage of the prototype MV-75 tiltrotor for the U.S. Army.

Bell is in the final stages of certification testing for its long-awaited 525 super-medium helicopter.

The stop-fold tiltrotor uncrewed aircraft under development by Bell for a DARPA project to fly a high-speed VTOL demonstrator has been designated the X-76.

Texas-based helicopter mission equipment outfit Davenport Aviation has completed initial testing of an armed Airbus H125 helicopter.