🛡️ The Carbon Fibre "Roll Cage"

A key difference in the HX50 is its monocoque structure. This isn't just a frame; it's a fully integrated carbon fibre chassis that creates a protective roll cage completely around the occupants.

• Massive Structural Support: Unlike traditional aircraft, which may use thin metal supports, the HX50 employs huge, robust support pillars (A-pillars and B-pillars) that form the core of its strength.
• A Lesson from Racing: Think of a Formula 1 car. 40 years ago, racing accidents were often fatal. Today, thanks to modern safety cells, drivers can walk away from high-speed rollovers. The HX50 applies this exact principle to aviation.
• The Rollover Advantage: In a crash-and-roll event, this rigid carbon structure is designed to maintain its integrity, protecting the space around the passengers rather than collapsing under the aircraft's weight.

💺 Advanced "Stroking" Crashworthy Seats

The second critical safety layer protects occupants from the vertical forces of a hard impact.

How They Work

Many people mistakenly believe the landing gear absorbs this kind of impact. In reality, that job belongs to the seats.

• The "Stroking" Mechanism: All seats in the HX50 (front and back) are crashworthy. They are designed with a specific "stroking room"—a built-in space between the bottom of the seat and the aircraft floor.
• Absorbing the Impact: During a hard vertical landing, the seat is designed to compact, or "stroke," down into this space. This controlled collapse absorbs the G-force of the impact progressively.
• Protecting Your Spine: This design is critical for preventing spinal injury. A sudden, sharp G-load can instantly break the spine. By "stroking," the seat dissipates that energy over a fraction of a second, ensuring the peak force transferred to the occupant remains at a survivable level.

A Modern Approach to Safety

The HX50’s safety philosophy is a two-part system:

1. The Carbon Roll Cage protects you from rollovers and lateral impacts.
2. The Crashworthy Seats protect you from vertical impacts.

Together, these features—which are currently being installed in the prototype—modernise helicopter safety and provide the ultimate peace of mind for all occupants.