The vertical flight industry converged in Dallas this past March, building momentum with cautious optimism. (All photos VAI/f-stop Photography) VERTICON Takes Off Premier global vertical aviation event sees successful debut. By Jen Boyer The first edition of VERTICON concluded in Dallas, Texas, in March with a record number of exhibitors and cutting-edge innovations. The world’s largest vertical aviation trade show and conference featured 686 exhibitors and 14,414 attendees representing 88 countries. Throughout the event, held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, there was no shortage of business deals playing out. Both Robinson Helicopter Co. and Airbus Helicopters unveiled new aircraft models, while other OEMs announced aircraft sales daily during the four-day show, which ran Mar. 10–13. Those increased sales, in turn, boosted business for the many vendors supporting the vertical aviation industry’s OEMs and operators. A Kern County (California) Fire Department Bell 412EPX arrives at VERTICON 2025. A Giant Leap for Robinson One of the many Robinson banners at VERTICON foreshadowed the manufacturer’s big model news, proclaiming, “It’s Not a Launch. It’s a Leap.” Robinson became the talk of the show two days before exhibits opened Mar. 11 when the maker unveiled its newest aircraft type—the two-pilot, eight-passenger, multimission R88, powered by Safran’s Arriel 2W engine. Unlike previous models from Robinson, which were built off the slim R22 design, the R88 resembles a more traditional single-turbine multimission helicopter. Longtime Robinson VP of Engineering Pete Riedl, who died in January, led the new model’s design, building it around Robinson’s proven two-bladed teetering rotor system, tall mast, and founder Frank Robinson’s high-performance tail rotor. But that’s where the obvious similarities end: gone is the T-bar cyclic, replaced by standard, removable floor-mounted cyclics that allow the helicopter to be piloted from either front seat in the roomy, wide cabin. The R88 also features a full glass cockpit with Garmin G500H TXi displays and a four-axis Garmin autopilot standard. “As we look to the future, we see a clear and compelling need for more,” Robinson CEO David Smith said of the R88’s development during the unveiling event on Mar. 9. “More capability, more capacity, and more range.” Smith emphasized that the company saw an opportunity with the R88 to fill a void in the industry with “an accessible, highly capable aircraft that positively addresses those demands for pilots and maintainers all over the world in a robust and supportable package.” Robinson was uniquely positioned to meet this need, he said, due to the company’s long history of providing helicopters known for their affordability, ease of maintenance, and safety. Listed for $3.3 million, the versatile R88 is designed to support firefighting, air ambulance, air tour, VIP transport, and utility operations. The model offers features not available in the light single-engine helicopter market, Smith emphasized, with a highly reconfigurable flat cabin, high skids, a truck tailgate–like back door for ease of loading, a data recording system, an onboard health and usage monitoring system, dual hydraulics, and certification for optional single-pilot IFR operations. Other standard features include air-conditioning, an inlet barrier filter, impact-resistant windshields, and adjustable seats. The first R88 could fly as soon as the end of 2025. Smith anticipates type certification between two and a half and four years from that first flight. Robinson wouldn’t specify how many orders it received for the R88 at VERTICON, but the OEM did gain 120 firm orders for aircraft, with the vast majority being for the R88, it noted. Robinson attracts a crowd for the unveiling of its new premium R66 trims. Airbus Expands Light Twin Product Line Airbus Helicopters launched its light twin-engine H140 at VERTICON during the first day of exhibits. Built off the H135 with key elements of the popular H145, the new aircraft was designed to meet customer demands for improved performance, a larger cabin, and increased comfort, Airbus announced at the unveiling. The H140 features the H145’s bearingless, five-blade main-rotor system, situated 4 inches higher than the H135’s for increased clearance, making room for the 10-inch–larger clamshell doors compared with the H135, a common request from the air ambulance sector for patient loading. The cabin is 37 cu. ft. larger than the H135’s, allowing for a more comfortable six-passenger configuration, and features larger windows for increased visibility. The H140 also sports a refined Fenestron tail for improved performance, with a T-tail horizontal stabilizer at the top. The design change, according to Airbus, is intended to move the stabilizer away from the main-rotor downwash for better hover performance. The onboard FADEC-equipped Safran Arrius 2E engines allow the H140 to produce the increased hot and high performance demanded for European air ambulance operations, in addition to sizable power reserves in situations where one engine is inoperative, compared with the abilities of the Arrius 2B2Plus engines in the H135. Flight testing for the H140 began in June 2023, and Airbus hopes to achieve European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification in 2028, with FAA validation taking place the following year. The H140 brings Airbus Helicopters’ light twin product line to three aircraft. The company is adamant that increased sales and demand for light twins have created room for the H140 and that the H135 and H145 will continue to be produced when the H140 is certificated. Commitments for 74 H140s were received during VERTICON, with the majority slated for air ambulance operations. The Year of New Trim VERTICON saw several announcements of new trim options for 2025. Enstrom Helicopter Corp. debuted two trim levels for its 480B turbine helicopter. The Elite trim package includes a sleek new paint scheme, interior trims to complement the exterior paint, an all-glass instrument panel, three-axis autopilot, and air-conditioning. The base Signature package offers similar paint and interior trim and comparable avionics; air-conditioning and autopilot are optional. Robinson unveiled the R66 NxG with three trim levels featuring a refreshed paint scheme, Garmin glass avionics, autopilot, an impact-resistant windshield, and interior trims. The Southwood trim is the entry-level NxG option, with the Palo Verde offering a higher-end interior and avionics. The premium Riviera, a limited edition, increases the autopilot to three-axis and includes higher-end interior materials, light wood flooring, and its own unique paint scheme. Bell unveiled the Designer Series luxury interiors for its 407GXi that include new color schemes, custom-stitched seats, and leather-wrapped armrests and headliner inserts. Lisa Atherton, Bell president and CEO, shares with VERTICON attendees the next step in the Bell 525’s certification. Increased Demand for Aircraft Despite global economic and political uncertainty, OEMs reported increased demand so far in 2025 for the same period in 2024. The majority of the growth shared at the show revolved around the offshore oil-and-gas, helicopter air ambulance, search-and-rescue, and defense sectors. “We’re seeing more life in the oil-and-gas sector, with increased production and renewed exploration, and also search and rescue,” says Roberto Garavaglia, senior VP of strategy and innovation at Leonardo. “At the same time, we’re seeing a revamp of the offshore oil-and-gas market where there’s a swap of interest from the large helicopters to the super mediums, like the [AW]189. We’ve [also] been very active in the military market, especially with military variants of commercial airframes.” Bell experienced a similar trend, with the highest commitments in the helicopter air ambulance sector, driven by Air Methods’ purchasing agreement for 27 Bell 407GXis. Bell also reported a record-breaking year for the Bell 429 in Latin America, in addition to the OEM’s growth in the energy market with Entergy’s order for two of the aircraft for power-line patrol. Bell is still awaiting final type certification for its highly anticipated Bell 525, positioned to serve the offshore market. The OEM announced a partnership with Omni Helicopters Guyana to perform an operational evaluation of the aircraft in the field. Sikorsky highlighted its new S-92 Phase IV main gearbox and redundant lubrication system as part of its S-92A+ variant. In ground tests, the gearbox has exceeded 7.5 hours of operation with a simulated oil-lubrication failure, far longer than the aircraft’s previous recorded endurance. Sikorsky anticipates certification for the variant later this year, says Leon Silva, the company’s VP of global commercial and military systems. Airbus Helicopters saw its North American market share continue to grow in 2024, particularly in the helicopter air ambulance space, driven by a 28-helicopter order from Global Medical Response in November 2024. “We saw an increase in North American market share from 2023 to 2024 of about 30%, quite a significant spike,” shares Bart Reijnen, president at Airbus Helicopters and head of the company’s North America region. “This was our best year in terms of bookings in a decade.” Since Ryan Weeks was promoted last June to president of MD Helicopters from his position as VP of aftermarket service and support, he’s refocused the company’s energy on aftermarket support. Under Weeks, who in January also assumed the CEO position at MD, the company is seeing many of its long-lead parts come in, which is allowing the manufacturer to make good on its promise of maintaining inventory for all high-demand parts and assemblies. Weeks says work toward the Super D and MD 530N upgrade supplemental type certificates (STCs) is progressing, and kit deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter. “Four of the STCs are expected this year: the 530N with a C30 engine upgrade, the Super D20R, the Super D20B, and the Super D30,” Weeks says. “Operators are also asking for a kit that allows them to install the C30 engine in a 500D and 500E …, which will provide better performance in hot and high conditions, so we plan to release those upgrades after the Super Ds and the 530N upgrades.” Robinson had a banner sales year in 2024, especially for the R66, CEO Smith says, but key supply-chain issues hindered deliveries. For instance, he says the company could have delivered twice as many R66s in 2024 if not for the shortage of engines, which resulted from difficulty Rolls-Royce experienced with its supply chain. “It’s all connected, so we continue to work closely with our vendors,” Smith says. On the engine side, Safran was the winner, with its engines selected for the new Robinson R88 and Airbus H140. Both engine variants are undergoing development and certification in conjunction with their new airframes. Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce, and Safran reported higher demand due to increased aircraft sales. All three engine suppliers are boosting investment to meet the increased demand while continuing to battle supply-chain issues. Safran engines will power both aircraft announced at VERTICON 2025, the Airbus H140 and the Robinson R88. Supply-Chain Woes Despite devoting considerable resources to the problem, the vertical aviation industry continues to experience supply-chain issues. The silver lining, however, is that OEMs and vendors are chipping away at these barriers, and the situation continues to improve. Key to the recovery has been manufacturers’ constant communication with suppliers about their future needs. Sikorsky’s Silva summarizes what most OEMs are experiencing. “Demand is up, which means the consumption of parts, including those affected by supply-chain shortages, is also up,” he explains. “So while we’re recovering from supply-chain shortages, the demand is increasing faster. It’s a perfect storm.” Exacerbating the issue are the ongoing war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia that are limiting access to key minerals such as titanium and magnesium, forcing everyone needing those minerals to flock to remaining sources. Where a particular OEM gets its supply directly reflects the shortages it’s experiencing. For instance, Nicolas Chabee, Pratt & Whitney Canada VP of marketing and sales for helicopter engines, says his company is facing headwinds with forgings and castings. Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Cédric Goubet notes that while raw materials are no longer an issue, the company continues to encounter challenges with machining vendors. Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, contends with operational impacts due to financial hardship and staffing resources throughout the supply chain. Nonetheless, Rolls-Royce Helicopter Program Senior VP Scott Cunningham expects to increase deliveries by 50% in 2025. At Bell, Chief Commercial Officer Danny Maldonado echoes that increased sales are driving up pressure on supply chains. Raw materials and castings are Bell’s biggest challenges in this area. “You can go to multiple vendors for a part, but if they’re all going to the same places for raw material, that complicates things,” he notes. Another issue complicating the supply-chain recovery at press time in early June was the Trump administration’s tariff policies, which have roiled the global economy. Whether or not the US government achieves its trade goals, the general consensus is that decades of globalization have come to a halt and it will take some time for the global economy to find a new equilibrium. While OEMs are watching the situation closely, there continues to be uncertainty. It takes months to pivot with each new tariff change, and tariff changes have been coming as frequently as just weeks apart. Rotor Technologies VP of Partnerships Nik Coates (right) talks with an attendee about the company’s unmanned R44 platform. Future of Vertical Flight At HAI HELI-EXPO 2024, VAI announced its name change from Helicopter Association International (HAI) and rebranded its annual trade show to VERTICON. The move was intended to address the increasingly diversified vertical aviation fleet, including helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. VERTICON 2025 attendees could find each category represented at this year’s show. California-based AAM company Joby Aviation made its VERTICON debut with a mock-up of its six–electric motor aircraft, which the company says is entering the final stages of FAA certification. Joby recently received an additional $500 million investment from backer Toyota Motor Corp. and continues to build service partnerships, including a recent agreement to launch air taxi services in the United Arab Emirates by early 2026. On the heels of permission to operate its Sprayhawk UAV commercially in Brazil, Rotor Technologies displayed its remotely operated R44-based aircraft, promoting both the Sprayhawk—aimed at the agricultural industry—and its Airtruck heavy-lift UAV platform. Displaying in parent company Robinson Helicopter Co.’s booth, Ascent AeroSystems unveiled its Helius micro-UAV, a coaxial aircraft aimed at the public safety industry. Small enough to fit in a cargo-pants or tactical-vest pocket, the hand-launchable aircraft includes a 4K camera with low-light capability, cellular connectivity, obstacle avoidance technology, and a rechargeable, field-swappable battery. Autonomous–air taxi manufacturer Wisk displayed a small model of its Generation 6 eVTOL in parent company Boeing’s booth. Wisk reported its plans to launch the vehicle in Texas within the next decade. Joby Aviation made its VERTICON debut this year with a mock-up of its six-rotor aircraft. The aircraft is expected to enter service in the United Arab Emirates in 2026. Onward and Upward VERTICON 2025 marked the final VAI event for James Viola, the association’s president and CEO. After five years of service, Viola stepped down in mid-March to take the helm of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. VERTICON 2025 was the ideal send-off. “The changes we’ve made in the last five years have set VAI on an upward vector, and I see the whole industry ready to continue to do good things within vertical aviation,” Viola says. “Helicopter operators are talking beyond helicopters now. They’re incorporating future vehicles into their missions, and that was my intent five years ago. It will be exciting to see where it goes in the future.” VAI is already deep into planning for VERTICON 2026 and hopes to see continued growth in participation from all sectors of the vertical flight industry. The 2026 show will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, Mar. 9–12 (exhibits open Mar. 10–12). Jen Boyer is a journalist and marketing communicator specializing in aviation. She holds commercial, instrument, flight instructor, and instrument instructor ratings in helicopters and a private rating in airplanes.
