Hill is clocking up more and more “firsts” at an impressive pace.
A major component for the HX50, one that will be the very first to run on the GT50 test engine, is in production and almost finished.
9 Apr 2024
The high-pressure turbine disc is the centrepiece that sits on the N1 rotor and rotates at 46,000 rpm. In order to hold the rotor blades, fir tree roots have to be cut into it for blade-to-disc connection, and the last of these are being done right now.
As seen in the last AMA, the first batch of waxes are ready to go to casting for the first set of test high pressure turbine blades for GT50.
An important innovation has been to start developing a new process for 3D printing casting waxes in-house, which reduces the cost of producing them by about a factor of 30, representing an incredible saving. These are of course the burnout waxes used to create the shells we cast from.
These new in-house produced investments will be tested in parallel with the first batch.
The blades will be cast in super alloy commissioned from our suppliers. Although the alloy came in with a mill certificate saying that it met all the performance requirements, our own exacting tests picked up that the alloy isn’t quite hitting the performance levels that we need. We are investigating the situation so that we can solve it before we cast the blades – clearly, they have to perform as expected when we put them in the engine.
Are you interested in the HX50? Book your spot in our group presentation and learn why the HX50 will be better than your current helicopter.
Mischa Gelb (aka Pilot Yellow) and Ruben Dias
Exclusive full details about the HX50 not yet available to the public
30 minutes presentation + Q&A via ZOOM
Get all the relevant news and updates about the HX50 delivered to your inbox.
Hill Development Centre
Units 3 & 4 Key Pt, Towers Business Pk, Wheelhouse Road
Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1UZ
United Kingdom
© 2024 HILL HELICOPTERS