Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

U.S.-based Innova Aerospace is looking to fly a fully conforming prototype of the Composite Helicopters C630 five-place light single powered by a production Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft later this year. The helicopter will be one of two used in a parallel certification program with the New Zealand CAA and the U.S. FAA with the target of achieving full certification in the first quarter of 2018, according to Greg Fedele, Innova’s executive vice president of corporate development.

 


Fedele reports substantial recent progress with the program, citing the completion of all production molds, the initiation of parts manufacture and the production gearbox in “final review.” He said privately held Innova has adequately capitalized the program to see it through certification and initial production in New Zealand. Currently, a team of 30 is working on the program, among them a small number of contractors and some U.S.-based personnel. Fedele said Innova has yet to set a price for the helicopter and is not taking orders yet.

 


Innova acquired the intellectual property rights to the New Zealand-based program last year. Preliminary specifications for the carbon-fiber rotorcraft include a cruise speed of 125 knots, a range of 450 nm (no reserve) and 1,350 pounds of payload. Composite Helicopters debuted its initial design, the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2011-08-28/new-zealand-company-unveils-composite-helicopter">KC518</a>, at AirVenture Oshkosh in 2011 with plans to market it initially as a kit before pursuing certified production. Two prototype aircraft crashed in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 those initial development plans changed, with the company announcing that it intended to <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-03-03/composite-helicopters-pursuing-certified-models">eschew kit production</a> in favor of three different certified models: the KC630 with a Rolls-Royce 300 in an executive five-seat configuration, the KC650 powered by a Honeywell LTS101 in a utility six-seat configuration and an intermediate KC640 model with a Rolls-Royce 250-C20B.

 


Last year the company anticipated certification for the KC630 in late 2017, followed by the KC650 and KC640 in 2018. Innova has renamed the KC630 simply the C630 and it is the only design the company is currently pursuing. Composite Helicopters claims its rotorcraft is the first fabricated with a full monocoque fuselage fabricated entirely from rigid composite materials.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Innova Speeds Composite Helicopters Development

Announced as a kit project, the C630 will now be a certified model.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Rotorcraft

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN